In the wake of a potential defamation suit involving Labour Party’s Peter Obi and social media activist, Deji Adeyanju, former Kaduna State Senator Shehu Sani has offered crucial advice to social media users, drawing from his own extensive legal battles with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
The context for Sani’s warning followed recent events where Peter Obi appears to be taking steps to take media personality Deji Adeyanju to court for defamation. Adeyanju, a lawyer and activist, has been a vocal critic of many politicians.
Using this latest development as a teaching moment, Shehu Sani took to Facebook on Saturday to advise young activists on the realities of legal fights. He pointed to his own experience, stating, “The former Kaduna Governor while on seat took me to 5 High Courts.” This multi-year legal ordeal with El-Rufai, which involved numerous cases, seems to have deeply informed his perspective on the risks of public commentary.
His advice was blunt and practical. He urged young comrades “not to be afraid of expressing your views but always keep money to pay your lawyers in case you are dragged to the courts.”
He also issued a stark warning against relying on external help, noting, “Most rights groups will say they will defend you but will disappear the moment the case drags on in court.” This highlights a common concern about the sustainability of legal support from advocacy groups once lengthy and expensive court processes begin.
Concluding with a word of caution that resonated with many, Sani referenced the Facebook prompt that asks “what’s on your mind”. He wisely advised, “It’s not everything that is in that your mind that you should post.”
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