Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has threatened to sue activist and lawyer Deji Adeyanju over alleged defamatory publications on social media.
Obi’s lawyer, Alex Ejesieme, accused Adeyanju of spreading false and malicious statements against his client, portraying him as corrupt, fraudulent and a religious bigot.
According to Obi’s legal team, Adeyanju’s posts, which date back to 2022, sought to tarnish Obi’s reputation both locally and internationally.
Some of the claims included allegations that Obi diverted Anambra State funds into family businesses, attempted to bribe Adeyanju after a private meeting and used religion to manipulate voters during the 2023 presidential campaign.
Obi’s lawyers described these claims as “false, malicious and contrived,” insisting there was no truth in them.
Adeyanju also referred to Obi as “the leader of a mob” and “a scum,” which Obi’s lawyers believe were calculated to portray him as an anarchist and a divisive figure.
“The statements have been widely disseminated, causing untold damage to our client’s reputation and integrity,” the letter read in part.
Obi’s legal team demanded that Adeyanju immediately delete all defamatory posts, issue a public apology across his social media platforms, and publish apologies in three national dailies.
Failure to comply within seven days would compel Obi to institute a lawsuit seeking aggravated damages, a restraining injunction and recovery of legal costs.
Reacting on Facebook, Adeyanju wrote: “I can’t wait to meet him in court finally. A fraud parading himself as a messiah.”
In another post, he added: “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…”
Adeyanju, who is known for his frequent criticism of Obi and his supporters, also mocked the Labour Party leader over the letter served on his aide Serah Ibrahim after her own comments against him.
