The 2023 presidential candidate of opposition Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has officially filed a lawsuit against Abuja-based lawyer, Mr. Deji Adeyanju, over alleged defamation.
Obi who filed the suit at a State High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State is demanding N1.5billion as damages from the activist lawyer.
In the suit, marked No. 0/254/25, the ex – Governor of Anambra State is seeking a surfeit of declaratory and injunctive orders against Adeyanju.
Obi designated as the plaintiff, alleged that Adeyanju listed as defendant published “false, baseless, unfounded, malicious, reckless, scandalous, and defamatory” statements against him across multiple social media platforms.
The writ of summons dated October 3, 2025, and addressed to Adeyanju of D4 Makuru Close, Wuse II, Abuja, directs him to enter appearance within forty-two (42) days of service or risk judgment being entered in default.
The activist and rights lawyer who shared the writ of summon on his social media handle, vowed to meet the former presidential candidate in court, even as he expressed confidence in his readiness to prove his case against Obi.
Obi is seeking a declaration that Adeyanju’s various publications on his verified social media handles, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, are defamatory and damaging to his reputation.
He is also praying the court for an order compelling the lawyer to publish a full, unreserved apology to him on all his social media handles and in at least three national newspapers, as well as on major television and online platforms such as Channels TV, TVC News, and Arise News.
Obi is also seeking a retraction and deletion of all defamatory posts labeling him as a “religious bigot,” “fraud,” “political prostitute,” “scum,” and other disparaging terms.
The former Labour Party presidential candidate also wants a perpetual injunction restraining Adeyanju from further making or publishing any defamatory material against him.
He is also asking the court to award aggravated or exemplary damages of N500 million for what he described as “reckless and malicious” defamation.
Obi is also seeking general damages of N1 billion for the reputational harm, ridicule, and emotional distress allegedly caused by Mr. Adeyanju’s posts and utterances.
The former Anambra governor also wants the cost of litigation and professional fees incurred in instituting the suit, with an additional request for 18% interest per annum on the judgment sum until liquidation by the defendant.
Reacting to the development, Mr. Deji Adeyanju confirmed receipt of the court summons in a Facebook post.
“Finally, Peter Obi has sued me. I am actually happy and relieved that he didn’t chicken out in the end. Interestingly, he dragged me all the way to Anambra State, even though he is almost always in Abuja where I reside.
“But no shaking, we move. I will prove in court that Peter Obi is corrupt, a bigot, and a fraud. You will all be entertained, I promise,” he wrote.
No date has yet been fixed for hearing.
Obi had, in August, threatened to drag the lawyer to court over alleged defamation, escalating a dispute that began after the latter sued Obi’s female aide, Serah Ibrahim, for defaming his wife.
Obi’s lawyers, Ejesimen & Co Madiba Chambers, cited Mr. Adeyanju’s long-standing criticisms of Obi, including an earlier account the activist shared about a private meeting with the former governor.
“He tried to give me money and called it thank you for coming. It’s 100% true,” Mr. Adeyanju had claimed in a previous post, insisting the gesture was an attempt to buy his loyalty.
The notice also referenced a more recent post made on August 21, in which Adeyanju accused Obi of investing state funds in a company in which his family allegedly had interests during his time in office, according to report by The Record, an Abuja – based online news platform.
The lawyer had, in reaction to the demand notice, mocked the legal threat in a Facebook post.
“Just got this letter from Peter Obi, the religious bigot, demanding a retraction from me. I laughed so hard. I can’t wait to meet him in court finally. A fraud parading himself as a messiah,” he wrote.
The activist added that he had earlier sued Miss Ibrahim, accusing her of calling his wife an “OnlyFans hoe” and publishing “unprintable things” about her after he criticized Obi online.
“We served his little errand girl, Serah, a letter to retract all her defamatory publications on Monday against my wife, and she ran to the leader of the mob for help,” Adeyanju said.
“Obi cannot save her, and I am ready for him in court 100%. Super happy he sent that letter. It proves what we have always suspected: he is the one sending them to defame people online because they are his aides.”
In her defense, Miss Ibrahim claimed she only mocked Mrs. Adeyanju for posting suggestive photos online but did not call her a prostitute.
“I only said she constantly posts pics of butt, the kind you’d typically see on OnlyFans wannabe,” she said.
“I didn’t say she’s a whore. But if he wants to call his wife a whore, who am I to disagree?”
