ABUJA — The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has dragged the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Aboki Danjuma, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, demanding a whopping ₦10 billion in general damages for alleged defamation.
In the fresh suit filed by his lawyer, Maxwell Opara, Kanu is also seeking ₦50 million as exemplary damages, alongside a perpetual injunction restraining the police chief from making further “defamatory” remarks against him or IPOB.
The writ of summons, marked CV3179/2025 and dated August 12 but filed August 14, also seeks a 10 per cent post-judgment interest per annum on the total judgment sum until fully liquidated.
Kanu is specifically challenging a press release issued by Danjuma on July 25, in which the police boss allegedly linked IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), to deadly attacks in Ndi-Ejezie, Umualaoma, and Ndiakuwata Uno communities in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to Opara, the CP’s statement—issued within two hours of the killings—was “false, unsubstantiated, speculative, and defamatory,” and has caused serious damage to his client’s reputation both locally and internationally.
“The defendant alleged that IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu orchestrated the attacks. But the statement was made without proper investigation, evidence, or credible intelligence, as no arrest or prosecution has followed since the release,” Opara argued.
The lawyer further noted that the pronouncement came at a time when IPOB’s appeal against its designation as a terrorist group was still pending before the Supreme Court, making the matter sub judice.
Kanu is also asking the court to compel Danjuma to issue a public retraction and apology in at least two national dailies and on national television.
He contends that the police commissioner’s comments were actuated by malice and deliberately designed to prejudice his ongoing trial at the Federal High Court and to sway public opinion against him and IPOB.
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