Reno Omokri Finally Lands In Trouble As Nnamdi Kanu Slams N60bn Libel Suit On Him

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has slammed a sixty billion Naira defamation suit against locaqious Reno Omokri, who he claimed, damaged his reputation.

The suit was instituted in the High Court of Enugu State, holden at Enugu, filed by Aloy Ejimakor, Esq., on behalf of Mazi Kanu.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) is in possession of the Form 2 issued by the court and served on Mr. Omokri.

In Nigerian law, Form 2 refers to a General Form of Writ of Summons, which is a legal document used to initiate civil proceedings in court.

This form is used when a claimant (plaintiff) wants to sue a defendant in a civil matter.

It’s essentially the formal notice that a legal action has been filed and that the defendant is required to respond.

How it all started

Nnamdi Kanu, the Plaintiff, had approached the court in the suit, with case no: E/1034/2025, instituted for himself and on behalf of IPOB, with Reno Omokri as the Defendant.

The Writ of Summons Order 3, Rule 3, dated July 31, 2025, and signed by the Registrar of the court, reads follows:

“Reno Omokri, you are hereby commanded within forty-two (42) days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such services, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“And take notice that in default of your so doing the plaintiff may proceed in your absence, and judgment may be given.”

Kanu made claim for general damages in the sum of N50,000,000,000.00 (fifty billion Naira) for defamation, including injury to reputation, emotional distress, and prejudice to ongoing judicial proceedings.

He also made claim for aggravated damages in the sum of N10,000,000,000.00 (ten billion Naira) for the malicious and reckless publication of false statements by Omokri.

The Plaintiff further prayed the court for:

1. An order directing the Defendant to publish a full retraction of the defamatory statements in two national newspapers and on the Defendant’s Twitter/X account within 7 days of the court’s judgment.
2. An order directing the Defendant to publish a public apology to the Plaintiff in two national newspapers and on the Defendant’s Twitter/X account, admitting to the misrepresentation of facts.
3. A perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant his agents, privies, or assigns from further publishing or disseminating such defamatory or prejudicial statements about the Plaintiff without lawful justification.
4. Costs of this action, including legal fees and expenses incurred by the Plaintiff.
5. Interest on all monetary awards at the rate of 10% per annum from the date of judgment until full payment.

“Facts of the claim” against Omokri

In the Statement of Claim against Omokri, Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer stated as follows:

“The Plaintiff is a Nigerian citizen, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and a person of high public standing, currently facing trial in Nigeria.

“Facts of the claim: The Plaintiff is a well-known public figure and the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), an organization advocating for the self-determination of its people within the contraption, Nigeria.

“On or about 6/7/2025, the Defendant published or caused to be published, in his verified Twitter (X) account… certain statements concerning the Plaintiff, falsely alleging that the Plaintiff and IPOB were responsible for the killing of soldiers, police officers, and other security personnel, as well as acts of violence attributed to so-called “Unknown Gunmen.”

“The said publication is reproduced below in its original nature-

““Do you know how many Nigerian soldiers, police officers, customs, immigration, and prison officers, as well as NSCDC servicemen and women, have been killed by IPOB, ESN, and Unknown Gunmen in the Southeast, of which the majority have been from Northern Nigeria?”

“The said publication further described the Plaintiff and IPOB as engaging in terrorist activities, including the operations of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), without lawful justification or evidence.

“The said statements are false, baseless, prejudicial, and defamatory, as they portray the Plaintiff as a criminal and a terrorist, thereby injuring his reputation, character, exposing him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, and prejudicing his ongoing judicial proceedings in Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/383/15 pending at the Federal High Court Abuja.

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

“The Defendant’s publication constitutes prejudicial commentary on the Plaintiff’s pending judicial proceedings, amounting to contempt of court and a violation of the Plaintiff’s right to a fair hearing and presumption of innocence under Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

Pre-Action Notice against Omokri

The Plaintiff, through his counsel, P.N Agazie Esq of P. N. Agazie & Co., issued a Pre-Action Notice dated 10/7/2025 against Omokri.

He demanded the following:

a. A retraction of the defamatory statements in two national newspapers and on the Defendant’s Twitter/X account.

b. A public apology admitting to the misrepresentation of facts concerning the Plaintiff

c. A written undertaking to refrain from further defamatory or prejudicial publications.

However, “the Defendant failed, refused, or neglected to comply with the demands in the Pre-Action Notice”, which necessitated the suit.

Kanu fired on: “The statements published by the Defendant are defamatory in that they:

a. Were false and malicious, asserting criminal conduct without evidence.

b. Lowered the Plaintiff’s reputation in the estimation of right-thinking members of the society.

c. Exposed the Plaintiff to hatred, contempt, and ridicule.

d. Caused significant injury to the Plaintiff’s personal and overall reputation.

“The defamatory statements were published to a wide audience… thereby amplifying the damage to the Plaintiff’s reputation both within Nigeria and internationally.

“The malicious and false publication was read at Enugu by numerous persons including the younger brother of the plaintiff – Prince Emmanuel Kanu.”

Defamation meets prejudice

Kani insisted that the publication by Omokri constitutes prejudicial commentary on his ongoing judicial proceedings.

He also opined that it undermined the integrity of the judicial process and violating the principles of fair hearing and presumption of innocence.

Those principles are guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

According to him, the said publication amounts to contempt of court, interfering with the administration of justice and prejudices the Plaintiff’s right to a fair trial.

Consequent upon the “defamatory publication”, Kanu said he suffered significant reputational harm, damages, emotional distress, and prejudice to his ongoing legal proceedings.

“The Plaintiff’s standing as a public figure and leader of IPOB has been severely damaged smeared and tainted, leading to loss of goodwill, public trust, and support.

“The Plaintiff has also suffered financial loss, including costs incurred in addressing the defamatory publication and mitigating its effects,” he cried.

Find attached a copy of the suit:

Kanu’s junior brother joins the scramble for Omokri’s head

Kanu’s claim was supported with a written statement on oath of his witness and junior brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu.

Prince Kanu swore on oath and stated in part as follows:

“I am related by full blood to the Plaintiff and have known him all my life, spanning from when I was born to the present…

“I know that Plaintiff has been married for several years to Lolo, Mrs Uchechi Kanu and they have several children, and he maintains a residence at Enugu.

“I know that Plaintiff is the Crown Prince of Afaraukwu Ibeku, being the first son of our late father, Eze I. O. Kanu…

“I know that Plaintiff is the Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which is registered as a non-violent self-determination movement in the United Kingdom and has tens of millions of nonviolent members and followers worldwide… who altogether hold the Plaintiff in high esteem.

“I know that Plaintiff has been a mentor to many across Nigeria and beyond, including particularly my humble self and the thousands of people he has positively impacted their lives.”

He continued: “The Defendant’s publication constitutes prejudicial commentary on the Plaintiff’s ongoing judicial proceedings, undermining the integrity of the judicial process and violating the principles of fair hearing and presumption of innocence guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

“The said publication amounts to contempt of court, as it interferes with the administration of justice and prejudices the Plaintiff’s right to a fair trial.

“As a direct result of the Defendant’s defamatory publication, the Plaintiff has suffered significant reputational harm, damages, emotional distress, and prejudice to his ongoing legal proceedings.

“The Plaintiff’s standing as a public figure and leader of IPOB has been severely damaged smeared and tainted, leading to loss of goodwill, public trust, and support.

“The Plaintiff has also suffered financial loss, including costs incurred in addressing the defamatory publication and mitigating its effects.”

Kanu reiterated his brother’s earlier claims against Omokri, including general damages in the sum of fifty billion Naira for defamation, and aggravated damages in the sum of ten billion Naira, “for the malicious and reckless publication of false statements by the Defendant”.

About Omokri

Reno Omokri has been nominated for an ambassadorial position by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

His appointment, however, has not yet been officially confirmed.

According to multiple reports, Omokri is among several prominent figures, such as Shehu Sani and Femi Fani-Kayode, for appointments.

Presently, they are undergoing security clearance checks by the Department of State Services (DSS) before the appointments are finalized.

There has also been some public opposition to his nomination, though.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), for instance, has called for the withdrawal of his name from the list.

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