BREAKING: Nnamdi Kanu Files N20 Billion Libel Suit Against Police Spokesperson Adejobi

IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu has filed a N20 billion libel lawsuit against Nigeria Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi over alleged defamatory statements.

IPoB Leader Takes Legal Action Over Defamation Claims

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has instituted a N20 billion libel lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The legal action, filed on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by Kanu’s lead counsel, Chief Aloy Ejimakor, challenges statements allegedly made by Adejobi that labeled IPOB as a “proscribed terrorist organization.”

Allegations of Defamation

According to the lawsuit, Kanu contends that Adejobi’s statement, published on January 25, portrayed him as a terrorist leader. The police spokesperson had issued a press release detailing security operations in Imo State, where the police reportedly neutralized six alleged members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of IPOB.

The widely circulated publication, titled “Imo: Police Neutralize Six IPOB/ESN Terrorists, Recover Arms”, included details of the security operation. The police report also claimed the group was responsible for various high-profile crimes, including the 2021 attack on Owerri Correctional Centre and the killing of five policemen in Okigwe in December 2022.

Kanu’s Legal Arguments

Kanu argues that the statements made by Adejobi were false, defamatory, and damaging to his reputation. He claims the publication painted him as:

A leader of a violent terrorist group.
An associate of criminals engaged in terrorism.
A person lacking respect for human life.
An individual undeserving of justice in his ongoing court cases.

The lawsuit further asserts that the defamatory remarks were read by millions of people across Nigeria and internationally, including in Abuja, where Kanu has friends, family, and legal matters pending.

Kanu’s Demands

Kanu has requested the court to:

Order Adejobi to retract the alleged defamatory statements through a new press release.
Mandate the publication of an apology in three national newspapers—The Sun, Daily Trust, and Vanguard.
Issue a perpetual injunction preventing Adejobi from making further defamatory statements about him.
Award N20 billion in general and exemplary damages against Adejobi.
Order the police spokesperson to cover the legal costs of the lawsuit.

The case is expected to spark widespread debate, given its implications for free speech, defamation laws, and the legal status of IPOB. The court’s ruling could set a precedent in similar cases involving public statements by law enforcement agencies.