Incarcerated leader of the secessionist group, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, standing trial on terrorism charges, has himself dragged one Reno Omokri to court.
Kanu is accusing the social commentator of defamation and prejudice, and demanding ₦60 billion in damages.
The lawsuit was filed on July 31 at the Enugu State High Court. Kanu sued Omokri in his personal capacity and on behalf of IPOB.
According to court papers, the suit followed Omokri’s posts on X (formerly Twitter), where he allegedly linked Kanu and IPOB to terrorism, killings, and attacks in the South-east.
“The statements are false, baseless, prejudicial, and defamatory,” Kanu said through his lawyer, P.N. Agazie. He claimed Omokri’s post accused IPOB’s security arm, ESN, of being involved in terrorist activities.
The comments, he insisted, painted him as a criminal in the public eye, damaged his reputation, and exposed him to “public hatred, contempt, and ridicule.”
Omokri Failed to Retract Comments, Says Kanu
Kanu’s legal team issued a pre-litigation notice to Omokri on July 10, requesting a retraction, an apology in two national newspapers, and a public undertaking to desist from further defamatory statements.
The former presidential aide did not respond, prompting the legal action.
Kanu is asking for ₦50 billion in general damages and ₦10 billion in aggravated damages for what he described as “malicious and reckless publication.”
He also wants the court to compel Omokri to publish a retraction and apology on his X account and in two national dailies within seven days of judgment.
IPOB Leader Seeks Court Injunction
In addition, Kanu is seeking a perpetual injunction stopping Omokri, his associates, and agents from making or spreading any more such claims.
“No court in Nigeria has convicted me of terrorism or murder of security personnel,” he stressed.
He accused Omokri’s post of interfering with his ongoing trial and violating his right to a fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution.
The Enugu court is yet to fix a date for the hearing.
Kanu has been in custody since June 2021, when he was controversially extradited from Kenya. He is standing trial for terrorism-related offences at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Although IPOB has been proscribed by the Nigerian government, the group maintains that its struggle is peaceful. It continues to deny involvement in violent attacks attributed to “unknown gunmen” in the South-east.
If Reno Omokri, often accused of promoting sectional sentiments among Nigeria’s diverse groups, has evidence for his claims on Nnamdi Kanu, the court case perhaps provides the best opportunity to put them forward.
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