The Federal Capital Territory High Court has dismissed the ₦100 million libel action instituted by Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of HEDA Resource Centre, against former Attorney‑General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke.
Delivering judgment, Justice Babangida Hassan held that Suraju failed to establish the essential elements of defamation. The court found that the petition Adoke submitted to the Inspector‑General of Police in 2021—alleging forgery of an email and manipulation of a phone conversation in the OPL 245 proceedings—did not mention Suraju by name and therefore could not constitute libel.
The court further ruled that Suraju’s reliance on a Premium Times webpage and other exhibits lacked evidentiary weight, stressing that sending a petition to law enforcement is a lawful act and cannot, in itself, amount to defamation. The absence of critical proofs, including the disputed email, was deemed fatal to the claimant’s case.
Adoke did not present a defence, arguing that no prima facie case of defamation had been made. The court agreed, noting that there was no evidence of publication to a third party—a key requirement in defamation claims. The suit was accordingly dismissed without costs.
This ruling comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s failed attempts in the OPL 245 litigation abroad, where Adoke’s name featured prominently but allegations of corruption were unproven. Adoke has consistently maintained that forged emails and stage‑managed phone calls were used to implicate him.
