Court throws out Gani Adams’ N5bn defamation case against Sunday Igboho

An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has dismissed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit brought by the Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, against Yoruba nation campaigner, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho.

Presiding over the matter in Court 15, Justice O.T. Ademola-Salami not only struck out the suit but also awarded N500,000 in costs against Adams, in favour of Igboho.

The case, registered as M/1006/2004, was initiated by Adams through his lawyer, Sikiru Akinrele, who approached the court seeking to enforce his client’s fundamental rights.

Adams had accused Igboho of unlawfully recording a private phone conversation without his consent and sharing defamatory material, actions he claimed infringed on his constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999Constitution (as amended). He demanded compensation to the tune of N5 billion.

In his application, Adams also sought a court declaration that the alleged secret recording and its subsequent publication were “unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional.”

When the matter was heard on April 30, 2025, Akinrele urged the court to grant Adams’ requests. But Igboho’s lawyer, Mr. Junaid Sanusi, contested the claims, filing a counter-affidavit and a written address which were duly adopted.

Sanusi pointed out procedural flaws in the suit, noting that Adams had not personally deposed to the affidavit submitted. He further argued that the individual who did swear to the affidavit failed to offer a legal explanation as to why Adams could not do so himself.

Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice Ademola-Salami accepted the arguments presented by Sanusi, describing the supporting affidavit as defective and therefore inadmissible.

The court also observed that Adams did not provide sufficient proof to support his allegation that Igboho had tapped or recorded his private communications.

With no legal representation present for Adams during the judgment, the court dismissed the case and awarded N500,000 in costs to Igboho.