Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has filed a suit at the High Court of Enugu State against Bashir Ahmad, former Special Assistant on Digital Communication to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, for defamation related to terrorism.
Kanu, through his legal team led by Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, stated that Ahmad defamed him on or about January 19, 2025, through a post on the X App (formerly Twitter).
Kanu alleged that Ahmad’s statement, later published on Talkofnaija.com and phoenix-browser.com, was false and damaging.
Ahmad had stated, “Anybody advocating for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, a terrorist and the leader of the proscribed terrorist organization IPOB, should be considered a sworn enemy of this country.”
In a post on his X account, Ahmad referred to Kanu as a terrorist and described anyone supporting his release as a “sworn enemy of this country.”
He added that he would only support Kanu’s release if the separatist leader underwent rehabilitation and renounced his derogatory views about Nigeria.
Ahmad stated, “I can only advocate for his release when he is truly rehabilitated, so he stops seeing Nigeria as a zoo and the citizens as animals that deserve to be brutally killed.”
The court documents sighted by DAILY GAZETTE, Kanu is demanding N100 billion in damages.
He argued that Ahmad’s defamatory statements portrayed him as, “A convict who has been pronounced guilty for the crime of terrorism. A terrorist or a felon who engages in an act of terrorism. An irresponsible and violent person that has no regards for the sanctity of human lives. An irresponsible person that has no regards for the sanctity of being granted bail.”
Kanu claimed that these words, in their natural meaning, suggested that he was a terrorist and undermined his reputation, integrity, and honesty.
The IPOB leader contended that the defamatory statements went beyond fair comment, were malicious, and were meant to damage his character and public image.
Kanu further argued that these publications had a widespread impact, particularly in Enugu and Nigeria, where he has many supporters, colleagues, and family members.
Kanu said, “The Defendant’s libelous publications and utterances have seriously injured the Claimant’s character, credit, reputation and integrity. That the Defendant has by his defamatory publications brought the Claimant to scandal, contempt, odium, public humiliation and embarrassment for which he is entitled to monetary damages, injunctive relief and apology among others.”
The IPOB leader also sought a declaration that Ahmad’s statements about him being a terrorist were defamatory and libelous.
Among other demands, Kanu called for Ahmad to issue an unreserved apology in a letter that should be published in full-page advertisements in three national newspapers—The SUN, Daily Trust, and Guardian.
Kanu also requested a perpetual injunction, restraining Ahmad from making further defamatory statements, and sought an order for Ahmad to pay N100 billion in general and exemplary damages as well as the cost of the suit.
