Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has initiated legal action against the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, over alleged defamatory statements linking IPOB to violent activities in Imo State and the broader South-East region.
Through his Special Counsel, Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, Kanu filed a N20 billion libel lawsuit at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. He warned that any individual or security agency engaging in misinformation against IPOB would be legally challenged to substantiate their claims in court.
Ejimakor emphasized that a previous court ruling in October 2022 had declared the Nigerian government’s classification of IPOB as a terrorist organization unconstitutional and discriminatory. He criticized the recurring narrative that attributes all criminal activities in the South-East to IPOB, arguing that such claims not only defame Kanu but also tarnish the image of the Igbo ethnic group.
The lawsuit references a publication by Vanguard Newspaper on January 25, 2025, where Adejobi allegedly described IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), as terrorist entities responsible for various attacks. The report detailed a police operation in Ihube, Okigwe, Imo State, where security forces reportedly neutralized six ESN members and seized weapons, including AK-47 rifles, explosives, and communication equipment.
Adejobi was also quoted as linking IPOB members to past high-profile crimes, including the attack on Owerri Correctional Centre in April 2021, the killing of five policemen in Okigwe in December 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station in February 2022. He further commended the operatives for their bravery and urged citizens to support law enforcement efforts in maintaining peace.
In response, Kanu asserted that these allegations were false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation. He argued that the statements painted him as the leader of a terrorist organization and falsely associated him with acts of violence. The lawsuit contends that Adejobi’s remarks go beyond fair comment, amounting to character assassination and reputational harm.
Kanu is seeking a court declaration that Adejobi’s statements were defamatory, alongside several legal remedies, including:
- A public retraction of the allegations through the same media channels that published them.
- A written apology to be published in three major newspapers: The Sun, Daily Trust, and Vanguard.
- A perpetual injunction restraining Adejobi from making further defamatory statements about him.
- Payment of N20 billion in damages.
- Coverage of all legal costs incurred in the suit.
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The court is anticipated to schedule a hearing on the matter in the coming weeks, with the specific date yet to be determined. This will allow both parties involved the opportunity to present their arguments and evidence before the court, which will subsequently move forward with addressing the legal issues at hand.
