Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, on Thursday, instituted a case of defamation of character against the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams.
The suit marked I/406/2024 was filed before an Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
The suit followed an earlier threat by Igboho to sue Adams for allegedly accusing them of plotting an assassination.
When contacted over the latest development on Thursday, Adams’ Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said, ”Iba Gani Adams was never served any process. The legal team of Aare Onakakanfo will handle the matter. Immediately we receive court process, there will be a response.”
Ighoho had complained about a viral voice note in which Adams was heard allegedly saying that the Chief of Staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Mr Tayo Ayinde, had hired Igboho to undetake an assassination.
In the said voice note, Adams was allegedly heard saying in Yoruba language: “So, be careful associating with Igboho. Just last night, he was with Tayo Ayinde, the Lagos State Governor’s Chief of Staff. He was heavily paid. You know that I have an extensive intelligence network as Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland. Until about 2:45 am, he was with Tayo Ayinde, the Lagos State Governor’s Chief of Staff, who Tinubu also uses in Lagos to coordinate the execution of his evil machinations. He has been doing work of that nature for Tinubu since his days in the SSS.
“Tayo Ayinde gave N45m in cash to Igboho for the operation, thus shortchanging Igboho to the tune of N5m out of the N50m purse provided by Tinubu. The discovery of this has brewed disenchantment in their midst.”
Igboho had through his lawyers demanded a retraction and an apology.
According to the writ of summon made available to The PUNCH in Ibadan, on Thursday, Igboho is seeking, among others, “a declaration that the content of an audio clip between the defendant (Adams) and a third party named Nuru Banjo that took place sometime in November 2021 and further published on all new media platforms, including YouTube, is slanderous, libelous and defamatory.
“A declaration that it is unlawful, inappropriate and inexcusable for the defendant to defame, disparage and put to disrepute the character and reputation of the claimant (Igboho) in an audio clip published on all new media platforms, including YouTube, in a publication that took place between the defendant and a third party, Nuru Banjo, sometime in November 2021 or thereabout.
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendant to publicly retract the slanderous, libelous and defamatory content contained in the publication to Nuru Banjo which was further published on all new media platforms, including YouTube, where the claimant was defamed, maligned and disparaged by the defendant in the conversation published in November 2021 by the defendant.
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendant to engage all new media platforms, including YouTube, to take down the slanderous, libelous and defamatory content against the claimant.
“An order of this honourable court directing the defendant to tender an unreserved apology to the claimant in five national newspapers in Nigeria over defamatory content against the claimant by the defendant which has been published on all new media platforms, including YouTube.”
He wants the court to perpetually restrain Adams, “his agents, privies or assigns from further embarrassing, degrading or defaming the person of the claimant.”
Also wants “an order of this honourable court for the payment of exemplary and aggravated damages in the sum of N500,000,000 in favour of the claimant for defamation of the person of the claimant by the defendant.”
The cost of litigation was put at N10m.
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
