Former Governor Peter Obi has threatened to drag Nigerian lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju to court over alleged defamation, escalating a dispute that began after the latter sued Mr Obi’s female aide, Serah Ibrahim, for defaming his wife.

In a demand notice seen by Peoples Gazette, Mr Obi’s lawyers, Ejesimen & Co Madiba Chambers, accused the activist of making repeated derogatory remarks against the former governor on social media platforms, particularly X.

The lawyers cited Mr Adeyanju’s long-standing criticisms of Mr Obi, including an earlier account the activist shared about a private meeting with the former governor.

“He tried to give me money and called it thank you for coming, it’s 100% true,” Mr Adeyanju had claimed in a previous post, insisting the gesture was an attempt to buy his loyalty.

The notice also referenced a more recent post made on August 21, in which Mr Adeyanju accused Mr Obi of investing state funds in a company in which his family allegedly had interests during his time in office.

Reacting on Wednesday night, Mr Adeyanju mocked the legal threat in a Facebook post.

“Just got this letter from Peter Obi, the religious bigot, demanding a retraction from me. I laughed so hard. I can’t wait to meet him in court finally. A fraud parading himself as a messiah,” he wrote.

The activist added that he had earlier sued Miss Ibrahim, accusing her of calling his wife an “OnlyFans hoe” and publishing “unprintable things” about her after he criticised Mr Obi online.

“We served his little errand girl, Serah, a letter to retract all her defamatory publications on Monday against my wife, and she ran to the leader of the mob for help,” Mr Adeyanju said. “Obi cannot save her, and I am ready for him in court 100%. Super happy he sent that letter. It proves what we have always suspected; he is the one sending them to defame people online because they are his aides.”

In her defence, Miss Ibrahim claimed she only mocked Mrs Adeyanju for posting suggestive photos online but did not call her a prostitute.

“I only said she constantly posts pics of butt, the kind you’d typically see on OnlyFans wannabe,” she said. “I didn’t say she’s a whore. But if he wants to call his wife a whore, who am I to disagree?”

Mr Adeyanju, a consistent critic of Mr Obi, has long dismissed the Labour Party leader’s political ambitions, insisting that he will never become Nigeria’s president. He has also clashed repeatedly with Mr Obi’s supporters, known as Obidients, over his online commentaries.

Mr Obi’s lawyers are demanding a public retraction of the alleged defamatory posts, along with an unreserved apology from Mr Adeyanju. The activist, however, vowed to face the former governor in court.