In a fresh turn of legal drama, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has initiated a defamation suit against activist Deji Adeyanju, triggering renewed public scrutiny of political speech boundaries.
The lawsuit stems from a series of social media posts—primarily on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook—that Obi’s legal team has labelled “false, malicious, and contrived.”
Represented by Ejesimen & Co Madiba Chambers (SAN), the demand notice references remarks dating back to 2022, including accusations that Obi diverted state funds into family businesses, attempted to bribe Adeyanju, and exploited religion for political advantage during his 2023 presidential campaign. Adeyanju allegedly also described Obi as “a leader of a mob” and “a scum” in an effort to muddy his public image.
Obi’s legal team is demanding that Adeyanju immediately delete all defamatory posts, issue a public apology across his social media platforms, and publish apologies in three national dailies.
The letter warned that failure to comply within seven days would compel Obi to institute a lawsuit seeking aggravated damages, a restraining injunction, and recovery of legal costs.
“The statements have been widely disseminated, causing untold damage to our client’s reputation and integrity,” the letter read in part.
