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The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a libel suit against Bashir Ahmad, former Special Assistant on Digital Communication to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Naija News understands that the lawsuit, brought before the High Court of Enugu State, accuses Ahmad of defamation and terrorism-related allegations.
Kanu’s legal team, led by his Special Counsel Barrister Aloy Ejimakor, stated in the claim that Ahmad made defamatory remarks on January 19, 2025, which were published on X (formerly Twitter) and republished on Talkofnaija.com and phoenix-browser.com.
Ahmad’s statement reportedly read: “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.”
Ahmad’s Statements
In a post on his X account, Ahmad described Kanu as a terrorist and stated he would only support his release if Kanu underwent rehabilitation and renounced his views about Nigeria.
He wrote: “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.”
Kanu’s Claims in the Suit
Kanu, who is seeking ₦100 billion in damages, asserts that Ahmad’s statements were defamatory and malicious, painting him as:
A convicted terrorist;
A violent person with no regard for human life;
Someone who disrespects legal processes, including bail conditions.
The suit claims the statements were widely circulated and read by millions, particularly in Enugu and Nigeria, damaging Kanu’s reputation among his family, friends, followers, and well-wishers.
Kanu further argued that the remarks subjected him to public scandal, humiliation, and disrepute, demanding monetary compensation, injunctive relief, and an apology.
Kanu’s Prayers to the Court
The IPOB leader seeks the following remedies from the court:
A declaration that Ahmad’s statements are defamatory and libelous.
An order for Ahmad to issue an unreserved apology, published prominently in The Sun, Daily Trust, and The Guardian.
A perpetual injunction preventing Ahmad from making further defamatory statements against him.
₦100 billion in general and exemplary damages.
Payment of all legal costs associated with the suit.
Nnamdi Kanu contends that Ahmad’s statements were beyond fair comment and deliberately intended to damage his character.
He argued that the publications have caused significant harm to his reputation and social standing, asserting that without court intervention, Ahmad would continue to defame him.
The court is yet to set a date for hearing the case.
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