Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, has threatened legal action against popular human rights lawyer and activist, Mr Deji Adeyanju, over alleged defamatory posts made against him on social media.
In a legal notice issued by EJESIMEN & CO MADIBA CHAMBERS, SAN, Obi’s legal representatives accused Adeyanju of consistently making “false and malicious” remarks targeted at damaging Obi’s reputation. The notice particularly highlighted a post dated 21 August, in which Adeyanju alleged that Obi had siphoned funds from Anambra State during his tenure and channelled them into his family business.
Adeyanju also claimed in the same post that he once met with the former governor, during which Obi allegedly attempted to give him money as a form of appreciation, describing it as a “thank you for coming”. Adeyanju insisted in his post that the claim was “100% true”.
Obi’s legal team described the remarks as “highly injurious, misleading, and calculated to bring their client into disrepute in the eyes of right-thinking members of the public”. They demanded that Adeyanju immediately retract the statements, tender a public apology, and desist from making further defamatory remarks. Failure to comply, the team warned, would result in legal proceedings being instituted against him.
However, Adeyanju, in a swift reaction posted on his official Facebook page on Wednesday night, dismissed the notice and declared his readiness to face Obi in court.
“I can’t wait to meet him in court finally. A fraud parading himself as a messiah,” Adeyanju wrote.
Adeyanju, who is known for his outspoken and often controversial interventions on national issues, has been a long-standing critic of Obi. He has repeatedly argued that the former governor lacks the capacity to lead Nigeria, insisting that he would never become president. His sharp criticisms have frequently sparked heated clashes with Obi’s supporters, known collectively as the “Obidients”, who remain among the most vocal political groups online.
In one of his recent Facebook posts, Adeyanju further argued that it is already “too late” for Obi to actualise his presidential ambition, a statement that once again drew backlash from Obi’s loyal supporters.
The unfolding legal tussle highlights the growing tensions between politicians and public commentators in Nigeria’s highly charged political space, particularly on social media platforms, where misinformation, defamation, and heated exchanges have become commonplace.
If Obi proceeds with his legal threat, the case could set a significant precedent on the limits of free speech and accountability for online commentary in Nigeria’s political discourse.
