Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, demanding an apology and ₦5 billion in damages for defamation and libel.
This follows Onanuga’s allegations linking Obi to an upcoming mass protest in August.
The controversy began on July 20, 2024, when Onanuga posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, accusing Obi’s supporters of planning to incite mayhem in Nigeria and holding Obi responsible for potential anarchy. Obi, through his counsel Alex Ejesieme, SAN, refuted the claims, emphasizing that they have tarnished his reputation as a non-violent individual with a distinguished record in both private and public sectors.
Ejesieme’s letter highlighted that the defamatory remarks, widely disseminated across social and mainstream media, were a deliberate attempt to undermine Obi’s character. “It’s our client’s conviction that the publication was a calculated plot to demean, ridicule, humiliate, and embarrass him by the estimation of every right-thinking member of the society,” the letter stated.
The letter further mentioned the emotional distress caused by the allegations, despite Obi’s reputation for maintaining peace even under provocation. “The demeaning and scandalous publication has also caused serious emotional injury to our client given his decades of stellar stewardship in private and public life,” it added.
Obi’s legal team has demanded that Onanuga retract the statement and issue an unreserved apology within 72 hours in four national dailies: Vanguard, THISDAY, Punch, and The Cable, as well as on his verified X handle. Additionally, they are seeking ₦5 billion in damages for the embarrassment caused to Obi and his family. Failure to comply will result in legal action for defamation and libel.
