Nnamdi Kanu Files ₦60 Billion Defamation Suit Against Reno Omokri

Detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a ₦60 billion lawsuit against social commentator Reno Omokri for alleged defamation and prejudicial public statements.

The suit, filed on 31 July 2025 at the Enugu State High Court, was brought by Mr. Kanu on behalf of himself and the proscribed IPOB. Mr. Omokri is named as the sole defendant.

According to court filings, Kanu alleges that Mr. Omokri made false and damaging statements on his social media account (X platform) on 6 July 2025. The posts allegedly accused Kanu and IPOB of involvement in the killing of security personnel, acts of terrorism, and links to violent activities attributed to so-called “unknown gunmen” in the South-East region.

Kanu, who is currently facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, argued that the statements were not only defamatory but also prejudicial to his ongoing trial. He insisted that as of the time of the statements, no competent court in Nigeria had convicted him of any crime related to terrorism or the killing of security officials.

Pre-Litigation Notice Ignored

The IPOB leader stated that he had issued a pre-action notice to Mr. Omokri on 10 July 2025 through his lawyer, P.N. Agazie. The notice demanded a public apology, retraction of the alleged defamatory content in two national newspapers, and a written undertaking to desist from further defamatory publications.

However, Kanu said the defendant failed to comply, prompting the initiation of legal action.

Reliefs Sought

In the suit, Kanu is asking the court to:

• Award ₦50 billion as general damages for reputational harm, emotional distress, and prejudicial impact on his ongoing trial.
• Grant ₦10 billion as aggravated damages for what he describes as reckless and malicious conduct.
• Order Mr. Omokri to publish a retraction and public apology in two national newspapers and on his X (Twitter) account within seven days of the judgment.
• Issue a perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Omokri, his agents, or affiliates from further publishing defamatory statements about him.

Kanu also accused Mr. Omokri of violating his constitutional right to a fair hearing and the presumption of innocence, referencing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Court Yet to Fix Hearing Date

As of the time of this report, the Enugu State High Court has not scheduled a hearing for the suit.

Background

Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention since his controversial repatriation from Kenya in June 2021. He is currently on trial for terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

IPOB, the group he leads, has been accused by security agencies of being behind a series of deadly attacks across the South-East and South-South regions. The group has repeatedly denied involvement in the violence and continues to advocate for the creation of an independent state of Biafra.

Security operatives and government officials have frequently been targeted in attacks linked to separatist agitation in the region. Allegations have also surfaced linking IPOB’s paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), to some of the incidents claims the group has consistently rejected.