Former presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi*has filed a ₦1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against political activist Deji Adeyanju following a recent public exchange involving allegations of misconduct and defamatory publications.

The suit, filed at the High Court of Anambra State, Onitsha Judicial Division, was lodged on October 3, 2025, under suit number 0/254/25.

Obi, through his legal team at Ejesieme & Co (Madiba Chambers, SAN), is seeking both aggravated and general damagestotaling ₦1.5 billion.

Background to the Dispute

The legal action comes after Adeyanju reportedly initiated a defamation case against Serah Ibrahim, a media aide to Obi, alleging she made damaging remarks about his wife.

In response, Obi’s lawyers issued a formal demand for Adeyanju to retract alleged defamatory comments made against their client. The activist, however, declined the request.

Obi’s legal team is now demanding:

* ₦500 million in aggravated damages

* ₦1 billion in general damages

* A public retraction and apology

* A perpetual injunction restraining further defamatory publications

Adeyanju Responds

Reacting to the lawsuit, Adeyanju described Obi’s move as “interesting” and welcomed the opportunity to defend himself in court.

In a statement, the activist vowed to use the legal proceedings to present what he described as “evidence of corruption, fraud, and bigotry” allegedly linked to Obi.

He also expressed surprise that the case was filed in Anambra State, noting that while Obi resides in Abuja, the lawsuit was brought in his home state.

Reactions

The case has sparked renewed public interest, with commentators watching closely to see how it unfolds — particularly given Obi’s national profile and Adeyanju’s reputation as a vocal critic of political figures.

No court date has been officially announced as of press time.