By Lukman Olabiyi
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has sued the Nigerian Police Force’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, over an alleged defamatory publication.
Kanu, through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, stated that Adejobi allegedly defamed the claimant through a press statement he issued and has asked for N20bn in damages.
The suit, which is before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has Kanu as the sole claimant, while Adejobi is also the sole defendant.
The claimant alleged that Adejobi defamed him through a press statement he issued on 25th January, 2025, which was published by many national dailies, including Vanguard Newspaper, with the caption: “Imo: Police neutralise six IPOB/ESN terrorists, recover arms.”
The suit was supported by a 13-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Prince Emmanuel Kanu, brother of the claimant.
Among the prayers of the claimant before the court are the following:
In the suit, the claimant prayed the court for a declaration that the defendant’s published statements or utterances are libellous and defamatory.
An order of the court directing the defendant to retract the said publications through another publication in the same media by issuing another press statement.
An order of the court directing the defendant to write and deliver to the claimant an unreserved letter of apology, which should be prominently and boldly published as a full-page notice in three national dailies, namely: The Sun, Daily Trust, and Vanguard.
An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant from further and forever uttering the said defamatory and libellous words about or concerning the claimant.
An order directing the defendant to pay the claimant the sum of N20,000,000,000.00 (Twenty Billion Naira only) as general and exemplary damages.
An order of the court directing the defendant to pay the cost of filing the suit.
And such further orders as the court may deem fit and expedient.