ENUGU, Nigeria — The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a N60 billion defamation suit against political commentator and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, at the High Court of Enugu State over allegations he says are false, malicious, and damaging to his reputation and ongoing legal proceedings.
The lawsuit stems from a post made by Omokri on July 6, 2025, via his X (formerly Twitter) account, in which he accused Kanu and IPOB of being responsible for the killings of Nigerian security operatives and for violent attacks carried out by individuals referred to as “unknown gunmen.”
In the writ of summons, Kanu, through his legal counsel, asserts that Omokri’s statements are not only factually incorrect and without basis, but also highly defamatory.
The statement, he argues, portrays him as a criminal and terrorist, thereby exposing him to public ridicule, hatred, and contempt, and causing emotional distress.
“As of the date of the malicious statements (6/7/2025), no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has convicted the plaintiff of any offence involving the killing of security personnel or acts of terrorism,” the court document states.
Kanu, who is currently facing trial in Charge No: FHC/ARJ/CR/383/15 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, contends that Omokri’s publication amounts to contempt of court and violates his constitutional right to a fair hearing and the presumption of innocence guaranteed under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Kanu is seeking the following reliefs from the court:
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General damages of N50 billion for defamation, including reputational harm and emotional distress.
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Aggravated damages of N10 billion for what he described as the defendant’s reckless and malicious publication.
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A public retraction of the statements in two national newspapers and on Omokri’s X account, to be published within seven days of judgment.
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A formal apology published through the same channels, acknowledging the misrepresentation.
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A perpetual injunction restraining Omokri and his associates from further making or disseminating similar defamatory claims without lawful justification.
The suit is the latest in a series of legal actions surrounding the controversial IPOB leader, who has been in detention since his extradition to Nigeria in 2021.
His ongoing trial, which has attracted significant domestic and international attention, remains a flashpoint in discussions about separatist agitation and human rights in the country.
As of press time, Reno Omokri had not issued a public response to the lawsuit.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.
