JUST IN: We Shall Meet in Court, Onanuga Replies Obi

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, has responded to Peter Obi’s threat of a N5 billion defamation suit with a defiant post on his X handle, indicating his readiness to face legal proceedings.

In his post, Onanuga stated: “I am still waiting for the letter from Peter Obi’s lawyer threatening a N5 billion suit and demanding an apology to Peter Obi over the planned ‘revolution’. Let me just tell Obi and his lawyer: I am not afraid of any legal action. We shall meet in court.”

This development comes after Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to Onanuga to retract his alleged defamatory statement. Onanuga had accused Obi’s supporters of orchestrating the upcoming nationwide protests against economic hardship.

Obi, through his lawyer Alex Ejesieme, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), demanded a public apology published in four national newspapers and N5 billion in damages for what he termed “widespread defamation and libel.”

The protests, reportedly led by youths, are scheduled from August 1 to 15 to address the rising cost of living and economic challenges. Onanuga previously linked these protests to the same individuals who organized the #ENDSARS protests in 2020, holding Obi responsible for any resulting unrest.

Obi maintains that these allegations have severely damaged his reputation, portraying him unjustly as someone who promotes violence. His legal team argues that the viral spread of Onanuga’s comments has caused significant emotional distress and reputational harm.

With Onanuga’s latest response, the stage appears set for a legal confrontation, underscoring the deepening tensions between the two political figures.