Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, famously known as Sunday Igboho, has taken legal action against the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, alleging defamation of character.
In a meticulously drafted court document, Igboho’s legal team, spearheaded by J. A. Sanusi, initiated proceedings at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, seeking redress for what they claim are defamatory statements made by Gani Adams.
The crux of the matter revolves around allegations made by Gani Adams in a purported audio conversation from 2021, wherein he accuses Igboho of heinous crimes, including being a serial killer and an assassin for prominent politicians, notably implicating him in the orbit of former Lagos State Governor and political heavyweight, Bola Tinubu.
According to the court document, Gani Adams purportedly claimed that Igboho was involved in criminal activities orchestrated by Tinubu, including coordinating with the governor’s Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde, and receiving substantial sums of money as compensation for his alleged nefarious deeds.
Igboho vehemently denies these accusations and is seeking substantial damages amounting to N500 million as compensation for the harm inflicted on his reputation. Additionally, he demands exemplary and aggravated damages, along with the reimbursement of litigation costs totaling N10 million.
Central to Igboho’s plea is the assertion that Gani Adams’ statements have tarnished his character and credibility, thereby necessitating a retraction and apology to be published in five national newspapers. Furthermore, Igboho seeks a permanent injunction against Gani Adams and his associates, preventing further defamation or disparagement against him.
Igboho said that Gani Adams accused him of being a serial killer and assassin for top politicians, including President Bola Tinubu in an audio conversation in 2021.
The document quoted Gani Adams as saying: “I was not against Igbobo until he became close to Tinubu. You know I get my information from different angles as Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland.
“He was with Lagos State Governor’s Chief of Staff, Tayo Ayinde yesternight from the information at my disposal. He left Tayo Ayinde around 2.45 am and you know Tinubu uses him (Tayo Ayinde) to coordinate criminal activities. He was compensated with the position of Chief of Staff.
“He was a former SSS (State Security Service) product. He was given money to recruit some criminals. Politicians use him (Sunday Igboho) to attack people….Tinubu will not show himself. He will call the line of the Chief of Staff.
“Tinubu gave them fifty million but Tayo Ayinde took five million out of the money. He gave Sunday forty-five million naira. Do not believe him, he said Tinubu should come and be President.
“I do not know why people in the diaspora believed in him (Sunday Igboho). Do not believe him at all. He collects money everywhere as a politician. He is cunning and a fraud. He only uses social media to bring support to himself… Sunday asked the media to lie against me. He supports me openly and goes against me behind my back. Do not support him. He is unreliable.
“Tinubu already promised to give him a house in Lekki and N200 million. He is only an entertainer. Tinubu was using Sunday to get a ticket from Buhari. Tinubu is the one using Sunday. He is the most dangerous person in Oyo State.
“I am not talking of Lagos. If he sees money, there is no one he cannot kill. From the confirmed report, even though I am not sure, he was one of those who assassinated Bola Ige together with Fryo. He left Lagos 2:45 am after he collected 45,000,000 naira. Tinubu asked 10 million boys to join forces with Sunday to eliminate me….Sunday has countless murder cases where he was able to exonerate himself.
“Some of his boys are presently in prisons standing trial for different murder cases. Some of his boys were already sentenced to life imprisonment. He used political power to exonerate himself.”
Meanwhile, Igboho has denied the allegations.
He urged the court to declare the content of the audio clip as slanderous against his character.
Igboho said it is “unlawful, inappropriate and inexcusable for the Defendant to defame, disparage and put to disrepute the character and reputation of the Claimant in an audio clip published on all new media platforms, including YouTube, in a publication that took place between the Defendant and a third party, Mr. Nuru Banjo, sometime in November 2021 or thereabouts”.
He asked for an order “of this honourable court directing the Defendant to publicly retract the slanderous, libelous and defamatory content contained in the publication to Nuru Banjo which was further published on all new media platforms including YouTube where the Claimant was defamed, maligned and disparaged by the Defendant in the conversation published in November 2021 by the Defendant”.
Igboho also prayed for an order of the court “directing the Defendant to engage all new media platforms, including YouTube, to take down the slanderous, libelous and defamatory content against the Claimant as said by the Defendant to a third party, Mr. Nuru Banjo, from their various new media platforms”.
It asked the court to direct “the Defendant to tender unreserved apology to the Claimant in five National Newspapers in Nigeria over defamatory content against the Claimant by the Defendant which has been published on all new media platforms, including YouTube”.
In addition, Igboho asked for an “order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agent, privies or assigns from further scandalizing, assaulting, embarrassing, degrading or defaming the person of the Claimant”.
The legal battle underscores the escalating tensions within the Yoruba community, with Igboho emerging as a polarizing figure advocating for the secession of Yorubaland from Nigeria. His confrontations with state authorities and his vocal stance on issues affecting the Yoruba people have garnered both fervent support and fierce opposition.
Gani Adams, as the Aare Onakakanfo, occupies a position of cultural and traditional significance within the Yoruba community, wielding influence and authority. His allegations against Igboho further complicate an already volatile situation, highlighting the deep-seated divisions and divergent interests within Yorubaland.
The outcome of this legal dispute could have far-reaching implications, not only for the individuals involved but also for the broader socio-political landscape of Nigeria. It raises questions about freedom of expression, the power dynamics within Yoruba leadership, and the efficacy of legal recourse in resolving contentious issues.
As the case unfolds in the courtroom, it serves as a microcosm of the larger struggle for identity, autonomy, and justice within Yorubaland. Regardless of the verdict, the repercussions of this legal battle are likely to reverberate across the region, shaping the trajectory of Yoruba activism and political discourse for years to come.
