Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a N20 billion defamation lawsuit against the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The lawsuit arises from a police press statement widely circulated online and published in major newspapers, alleging that IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), were responsible for violent crimes in Imo State.
Court documents reveal that the police statement linked six neutralized individuals to IPOB/ESN, accusing them of terrorism, including attacks on law enforcement facilities and kidnappings.
Kanu, through his legal team, argues that ACP Adejobi’s statements were defamatory, portraying him as the leader of a terrorist group and associating him with criminal activities.
He insists that the publication was false, malicious, and intended to damage his reputation both in Nigeria and globally, where he enjoys significant followership.
The lawsuit further claims that the alleged defamation has negatively impacted his reputation and ongoing legal efforts challenging IPOB’s designation as a terrorist organization.
As part of the reliefs sought, Kanu is demanding a court declaration that ACP Adejobi’s statements are libelous, a retraction published in the same media outlets, and an unreserved apology prominently featured in The Sun, Daily Trust, and Vanguard newspapers.
The writ of summons further seeks a perpetual injunction restraining ACP Adejobi from making similar statements in the future, along with N20 billion in general and exemplary damages.
