Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a N10 billion defamation suit against Aboki Danjuma, Imo State Commissioner of Police.
In the suit filed at the Abuja high court, Kanu is demanding N10 billion in general damages and N50 million as exemplary damages.
The suit, marked CV3179/2025, was filed on August 14 by Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara.
The IPOB leader is also seeking 10 percent post-judgement interest per annum on the judgment sum, from the date of judgement until full liquidation.
Kanu wants the court to declare that a press release issued by Danjuma on July 25, linking IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), to recent killings in Imo state, is “false, unsubstantiated, speculative and defamatory”.
He is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the police chief or any officer under his authority from further making such statements.
He also wants the court to compel Danjuma to issue a public retraction and apology in at least two national dailies and on a national television station.
According to the writ, Danjuma had issued a statement shortly after an attack on Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno in Arondizuogu, Ideato north LGA of Imo state, attributing the killings to members of IPOB and ESN.
Kanu, through his lawyer, said the press statement was “false and malicious” and that it was issued within two hours of the incident without proper investigation or evidence.
He said the police commissioner claimed the attacks were “orchestrated by IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu”.
Opara argued that the comments came while IPOB is challenging its designation as a terrorist group before the Supreme Court, adding that the matter remains sub judice.
He also noted that Kanu is currently standing trial for terrorism at the federal high court and that the press release was prejudicial to his right to a fair trial.
“The claimant avers that the false statement by the defendant was made without proper investigation, evidence or credible intelligence as no arrest or criminal prosecution has been initiated after the press release.
“The claimant contends that the statements made by the defendant were defamatory, false and actuated by malice, and intended to sway public opinion against him and IPOB,” the suit reads.
Kanu is the sole claimant in the suit, while Danjuma is the only defendant.
