An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has fixed July 3, 2025, to deliver judgment in the N5 billion defamation suit filed by Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, against Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo (popularly known as Sunday Igboho).
Presiding Justice O.T. Ademola-Salami of Court 15, Iyaganku adjourned the case (M/1006/2024) after hearing final arguments from both parties on Wednesday. The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) National Coordinator is seeking damages over an alleged illegal recording of a private phone conversation.
In his suit, Adams contends that Igboho violated his constitutional right to privacy under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution by secretly recording their discussion without consent. He is asking the court to declare such covert recordings unlawful while demanding N5 billion in damages for reputational harm.
Adams’ counsel, Sikiru Akinrele, urged the court to uphold his client’s fundamental rights during Wednesday’s proceedings. However, Igboho’s lawyer, Junaid Sanusi, challenged the suit’s validity through a counter-affidavit, arguing that Adams failed to personally sign the supporting affidavit as required by law.
Sanusi also disputed the phone-tapping allegations and asked the court to dismiss the case with costs awarded to his client. The legal battle between the two prominent Yoruba leaders has drawn significant public interest since its filing in 2024.
Justice Ademola-Salami’s impending ruling could set important precedents regarding privacy rights and electronic recording laws in Nigeria. The judgment comes amid ongoing tensions within Yoruba activist circles over self-determination advocacy methods.
Both parties are expected to return to court on July 3 for the final determination of the high-profile case that has lasted over a year in litigation. Legal analysts suggest the outcome may influence how private communications are legally handled in Nigeria’s increasingly digital public sphere.
