The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has slammed a N20 billion libel suit against the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP, Olumuyiwa Adejobi over alleged libelous and defamatory publications against him.
The IPOB leader, in suit marked, CV/267/2025 filed by his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor on Tuesday and made available to newsmen in Abuja, seeks an order of the court directing Adejobi to retract the said publications through another publications through the same media by way of issuance of another press statement.
He also wants an order directing the Defendant to write and deliver an unreserved letter of apology to him to be prominently and boldly published full-page in three national dailies as well as an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from further and forever uttering the said defamatory and libellous words about or concerning him.
The IPOB leader further seeks an order directing the Defendant to pay him the sum of N20,000,000,000.00, being general and exemplary damages and an order directing the Defendant to pay the cost of the suit.
In a written statement on oath by plaintiff’s witness, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, a brother to the IPOB leader residing at No. 1 Eze I. O. Kanu Drive, Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia North LGA, Abia State, Kanu is the Director of Radio Biafra and IPOB leader which is registered as a non-violent self-determination movement in the United Kingdom and has tens of millions of nonviolent members and followers worldwide, including millions in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja who altogether hold him in high esteem.
He averred that, on or about 25th January 2025, he and circle of friends of Kanu read a publication in Vanguard newspaper, wherein the Adejobi stated against the name and person of Kanu that, “Imo: Police neutralise six IPOB/ESN terrorists, recover arms: 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)”.
He said Adejobi made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen in Owerri following credible intelligence, the police operatives located and launched a coordinated operation on the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area of the state on January 24.
“Upon approach, the operatives, who came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists, demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.
“The operation resulted in the neutralisation of six members of the terrorist group, with three being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock, Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi and Kingsley Sunday, all natives of Ogube, Ihube, in Okigwe Local Government Area,” he said.
The Force PRO said five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with eight operational motorcycles used by the group, were recovered from the scene.
According to him, prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre on April 5, 2021.
Adejobi further hinted that the neutralised terrorists were involved in the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022.
ALSO READ: Imo: Police raid IPOB/ESN hideout, kill six, recover weapons
“The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023; four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022; and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023,” he noted.
“He conveyed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun’s, commendation to the gallantry and exceptional bravery of the operatives. The IGP charges police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety,” he stressed and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens.
“In addition to the print edition, the publication was also widely circulated online, adding that, the content of the said publications portrayed the Claimant to me and the general public as a leader of a violent and terrorist group, an associate of violent criminals and and terrorists who allegedly engaged in terrorist acts in Imo State.
He further averred that the said publication portrayed Kanu as an irresponsible and violent person that has no regards for the sanctity of human lives and a person who does not deserve justice in his cases pending in court, bordering on, “Whether the IPOB is a terrorist group or not and whether its members are terrorists or otherwise have engaged in terrorist acts.
“I have discussed these defamatory utterances of the Defendant against the Claimant with my circle of friends, relatives and acquaintances, especially the many that know and respect the Claimant and they insist that unless this Honorable Court holds otherwise, the Claimant shall forever remain guilty of the Defendant’s assertions in the said publication*.
He said the words in their natural and ordinary meaning were meant and were understood to mean that the Claimant is in fact a leader of a terrorist movement that is to be vicariously blamed for alleged acts of terrorism in Imo State.
That the words were meant to call into question the Claimant’s honesty, personal integrity and reputation and that, the Claimant states that these defamatory and libelous statements go far beyond fair comment and are malicious and are designed specifically to impugn his person and character and they were made in bad faith.
“That the Defendant’s libelous publications and utterances were circulated and read by millions of people around the world particularly in Abuja and Nigeria where the Claimant has many friends, family, colleagues, admirers, mentees, well-wishers and millions of followers and cases pending in court in which terrorism is at issue.
“That the Defendant’s libelous publications and utterances have seriously injured the Claimant’s character, credit, reputation and integrity; and resulted in significant prejudice against the Claimant in regard to his cases pending in Court in Abuja and elsewhere in Nigeria.
“That the Defendant has by his defamatory publications brought the Claimant to scandal, contempt, odium, public humiliation and embarrassment for which he is entitled to monetary damages, injunctive relief and apology among others.
“That unless restrained and otherwise sanctioned by this Honorable Court, the Defendant will continue to assassinate the character of the Claimant by way of issuing defamatory and/or similar and/or related statements against the Claimant. That by the reasons of each or all of the matters aforesaid, the Claimant has suffered and will continue to suffer loss, damage and/or injury to his feelings, reputation and social standing, having being brought into public scandal, contempt, odium and disrepute”.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE