By James Adamu
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has been given seven days to publicly apologise and pay N50 billion in damages over a comment he made during a recent podcast, or face a defamation lawsuit.
This follows a formal demand letter sent to him by lawyers representing political commentator Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, the factional National Vice Chairman (South West) of Labour Party.
The letter, dated July 3, 2026, which was exclusively obtained by our correspondent, was addressed to Obi at the NDC National Secretariat in Abuja.
It relates to an interview Obi had with Arise TV anchor Rufai Oseni. During that interview, Oseni asked Obi about his threat to sue his former campaign spokesman, Kenneth Okonkwo. Oseni then asked Obi why he had not taken similar legal action against Arabambi, who has been accusing him of misappropriating Labour Party funds. In his response, Obi stated that Arabambi “does not have an address.”
Arabambi’s lawyers, Neplus Ultra Attorneys, say this statement was “wholly false.” They argue that at all times, their client “has had a known residential and business address, maintains professional and political affiliations within Nigeria and has never been a person whose whereabouts or identity were unknown to members of the public.”
The legal team contends that the ordinary and natural meaning which reasonable viewers attached to the publication was that Arabambi “is a faceless and unidentifiable person, has no known place of residence, lacks any legitimate standing in public life, is a person of doubtful identity, is unworthy of public confidence, and is undeserving of the esteem, confidence and respect hitherto enjoyed by him.”
According to the letter, the statement was made “deliberately during a widely viewed political interview with full appreciation of the influence your words would carry among millions of Nigerians.” The lawyers argue it was published “recklessly, maliciously or with utter disregard for the reputation of another.”
The lawyers further note that the interview was watched by millions and shared across television and social media platforms. They state that the publication “has since enjoyed extensive circulation through television broadcasts, online news platforms, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, WhatsApp and other electronic media.” The letter adds that “persons who watched or subsequently viewed the interview expressly attributed to you the assertion that Our Client was ‘without address’ and proceeded to ridicule, insult and malign him across several digital platforms.”
The letter describes reputation as “an invaluable asset” and “a species of property which the law zealously protects against unlawful invasion.” It states that “a publisher is answerable not only for the immediate publication but also for such republication as is the natural and probable consequence of the original publication.”
Consequently, Arabambi’s lawyers are demanding an “unconditional retraction” and a “full, unconditional and unreserved public apology” to be broadcast on national television, published across Obi’s social media accounts, and published in full-page format in The Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian, THISDAY and The Nation.
They are also demanding “the sum of N50,000,000,000.00 (Fifty Billion Naira) as compensation for the grave injury occasioned to his reputation, dignity, integrity, political standing and public image.”
The letter further requires Obi to preserve “the complete and unedited video recording of the interview,” audio recordings, transcripts and social media posts, warning that destruction or alteration of evidence “shall be specifically brought to the attention of the Court as evidence from which adverse inferences may be invited.”
If Obi fails to comply within seven days, the lawyers say they will “commence proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction” seeking declaratory reliefs, “general damages for libel,” “aggravated damages,” “exemplary damages,” and a “perpetual injunction restraining you, your servants, agents, privies or assigns from further publishing or causing to be published the defamatory words or any words of similar import concerning Our Client.”
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