The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Kanu alleges that Adejobi falsely claimed that three individuals killed by the police in Owerri, Imo State, last week were members of IPOB. He argues that the statement, which was widely published in the media, was misleading and damaging to his reputation.
Gists9ja The lawsuit, filed by Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, specifically references an article titled: “Imo: Police Neutralise Six IPOB/ESN Terrorists, Recover Arms”. Kanu contends that the publication defamed IPOB by associating the group with violent activities.
As a result, the IPOB leader is seeking ₦20 billion in damages and a public apology, which he insists must be published as a full-page notice in three national newspapers—The Sun, Daily Trust, and Vanguard.
Details of the Defamation Claim
The police statement, attributed to Adejobi, stated:
“Operatives of the Imo Police Command’s tactical unit have neutralised three notorious kingpins of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), an armed wing of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).”
Adejobi’s statement, released in Owerri, Imo State, was widely circulated by news outlets. However, Kanu asserts that these claims are false, misleading, and defamatory, portraying him as the leader of a violent or terrorist organization.
Kanu’s Legal Demands
In addition to financial compensation, Kanu’s lawsuit seeks the following orders from the court:
- A written and unreserved apology from Adejobi, to be prominently published in national newspapers.
- A perpetual injunction restraining Adejobi from making further defamatory statements against him.
- Legal costs associated with filing the lawsuit.
Kanu insists that the Nigeria Police Force and its spokesperson must publicly retract their statements using the same media outlets through which the alleged defamatory claims were disseminated.
This legal battle underscores ongoing tensions between IPOB and Nigerian authorities, particularly regarding allegations of violence linked to the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the paramilitary wing of IPOB.
The case is expected to generate significant legal and political discussions as it unfolds.
