Defamation: Kanu drags Reno Omokri to court, demands N60b 

The embattled leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has sued former presidential aide, Mr. Reno Omokri for N60 billion at a High Court sitting in Enugu State over alleged malicious and reckless publication of false statements.

Recall that on July 6, 2025, Omokri, known for his flippancy, in a post published on X, alleged that Kanu and IPOB were behind the killing of soldiers, police officers, and other security operatives, as well as acts of violence attributed to so-called unknown gunmen.

In a writ of summon, the plaintiff (Kanu) argued that the statements are false, baseless, prejudicial, and defamatory, as they portray him as a criminal and a terrorist, thereby injuring his reputation, character, exposing him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, and prejudicing his proceedings in Charge No: FHC/ARJ/CR/383/15 pending at the Federal High Court Abuja.

The Plaintiff (Kanu) contends that as of the date of the malicious statements (6/7/2025), no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria has convicted him of any offence involving the killing of security personnel or acts of terrorism, rendering the defendant’s assertions factually incorrect and malicious.

According to Kanu, his legal team led by P. N. Agazie, issued a pre-action notice on July 10, 2025, demanding a retraction and public apology in two national newspapers and on Omokri’s X account, along with an undertaking to desist from further such publications.

Kanu told the court that Omokri failed to comply, prompting him to proceed with the lawsuit.

He is asking the court for the following reliefs, which include N50 billion in general damages for defamation, emotional distress, and harm to his ongoing trial.

N10 billion in aggravated damages for what he terms a “malicious and reckless publication.”

An order directing Omokri to retract the statement and issue a public apology in two national newspapers and on his X account within seven days of judgment.

A perpetual injunction restraining Omokri or his associates from making similar statements in future.

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