An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has thrown out the N5 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Chief Gani Adams, the Aare-Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, against popular activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho.
Justice O.T. Ademola-Salami, who presided over the matter, ruled in favour of Igboho and ordered Adams to pay N500,000 as cost.
The suit, numbered M/1006/2004, was filed by Adams through his legal representative, Sikiru Akinrele.
Adams alleged that Igboho infringed on his privacy rights by secretly recording a phone conversation without his permission.
According to Adams, such an act violates Section 37 of the amended 1999 Constitution.
He asked the court to make specific declarations on the legality of secretly taping conversations.
“A declaration that it is unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional for the respondent to covertly record and publicly release or publish the private telephone conversation between the applicant and another person, without the consent and authority of the applicant.”
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At the hearing on the 30th April, 2025, Igboho’s lawyer, Junaid Sanusi, submitted a counter-affidavit challenging the claims.
Sanusi pointed out that Adams failed to personally depose the affidavit submitted, which is a legal requirement.
After hearing arguments, the judge adjourned the matter to the 3rd of July, 2025, for final judgment.
Delivering his decision on Thursday, the 3rd of July, 2025, Justice Ademola-Salami ruled that the affidavit submitted by Adams was flawed, since it was not signed by Adams himself or by someone authorised to do so.
He added that even if the affidavit had been valid, Adams still did not prove that Igboho intercepted or recorded his phone conversation.