The Spokesperson for the Nigeria Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, may have escaped paying a total sum of N120 billion to Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Kanu, through his legal counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, had filed charges against both men on the grounds of defamation.

Regarding Adejobi, Kanu filed a suit marked CR/267/2025, dated Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in which he expressed displeasure over a press statement purportedly authored by Adejobi.

He argued that the press release, with the headline, “Imo: Police neutralise six IPOB/ESN terrorists, recover arms,” portrayed him as a terrorist leader by referring to IPOB as a proscribed terrorist organization.

He said, “These defamatory and libellous statements go far beyond fair comment,” adding that they were “malicious, designed specifically to impugn his person and character, and made in bad faith.”

He then asked the court to make the following declarations, “That the defendant’s statements or utterances are libellous and defamatory.

“That the defendant be directed to retract the publications through the same media outlets by issuing another press statement.

“That the defendant be directed to write and deliver an unreserved letter of apology to the claimant.

“That the letter of apology is prominently and boldly published full-page in three national dailies.”

It read further, “That the defendant be restrained by a perpetual injunction from further defamatory or libellous utterances against the claimant.

“That the defendant be ordered to pay the sum of N20,000,000,000 (Twenty billion naira) as general and exemplary damages.”

In his suit against Ahmad, Kanu, who is in the custody of the Department of State Services 9DSS) and facing terrorism and treasonable felony charges, lamented that he was described as a terrorist by the former presidential aide.

This was after Ahmad shared on X, “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.”

He prayed that the court should issue “An Order directing the Defendant to pay to the Claimant the sum of N100,000,000,000.00 (One Hundred Billion Naira only) being general and exemplary damages."

However, the suits filed by Kanu may not hold water in court after a Court of Appeal affirmed the Federal Government's decision to proscribe IPOB as a terrorist organization.

A three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Hamma Barka, on Thursday unanimously agreed with the Federal Government’s counsel, Oyin Koleosho, that the state acted lawfully in proscribing the group.

With the court's affirmation of IPOB's proscription, Kanu and Ejimakor must decide whether their suits against Adejobi and Ahmad will stand trial.

Reacting, Adejobi shared a photo of himself smiling, which he captioned, "Always patronise brilliant and competent lawyers whenever the needs arise. A quack or ill-trained lawyer can send you to jail. Be wise."

On his part, Ahmad revealed that the court's affirmation of IPOB's proscription is the "greatest news of the week."

He added, "The Court of Appeal has ruled that all activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) are illegal, labelling the group as a terrorist organization that poses a threat to national security and unity."

Meanwhile, effort to reach Ejimakor proved abortive as he failed to respond to a call and text message from our correspondent.