The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has dismissed a N5 billion defamation suit filed by Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani Adams, against popular Yoruba rights activist Sunday Igboho. Eyes Of Lagos reports,
Additionally, the court awarded N500,000 in costs to Sunday Igboho.
The case stemmed from allegations that Igboho had unlawfully recorded and leaked a private telephone conversation involving Adams — an act Adams claimed was a violation of his fundamental rights under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Gani Adams, through his counsel Sikiru Akinrele, argued that: “It is unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional for the respondent (Igboho) to covertly record and publicly release or publish a private conversation without the consent of all parties involved.”
He sought N5 billion in damages, and a declaration from the court to affirm that his rights to privacy had been breached.
But during the hearing on April 30, 2025, Igboho’s lawyer Junaid Sanusi filed a counter-affidavit dismissing the claims. He pointed out a major procedural flaw: Adams did not personally swear to the affidavit supporting his case — a requirement by law.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, July 3, 2025, Justice O.T. Ademola-Salami struck out the suit, labeling the affidavit as “defective” because it wasn’t deposed to by Adams himself nor an authorized representative.
The judge stated: “There was no evidence presented by the applicant to prove that the phone call in question was tapped or recorded by the respondent.”
