“Retract or Face Lawsuit”: Adeyanju Demands Apology from Onwuka Over Defamatory Posts

ABUJA – Human rights lawyer and activist, Deji Adeyanju, has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to a social media user, Chimezie Princewill Onwuka, popularly known as “Mezie,” over alleged defamatory publications accusing him of murder. The ultimatum was contained in a three-page pre-action notice dated May 26, 2026, and signed by his lawyer, Zainab M. Otega Esq. , of Deji Adeyanju & Partners. The legal team described the publication as false, malicious and damaging to Adeyanju’s reputation and professional standing.

According to the letter, addressed to Onwuka through his social media handles — Facebook @Mezie and Instagram @mezie_abia — the controversial publication was made on May 24, 2026, via Onwuka’s verified Facebook account. In the post, Adeyanju was allegedly accused of killing a fellow student during his university days and being helped to evade justice by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, SAN. The lawyers reproduced the allegedly defamatory statement as follows: “This guy, Adeyanju Deji allegedly murdered his fellow school mate while in the University. Reports say he was helped to evade Justice by Tinubu’s current minister of aviation, Festus Keyamo.” The publication further stated: “I just heard this character is VDM’s lawyer and I couldn’t stop laughing. Well, everything reminds me of the sarcastic words of my grandpa, ‘The evil bird does not ever perch until an evil tree is found.'”

In the notice, Adeyanju’s legal team said the publication falsely portrayed him as “a murderer, a criminal and someone lacking integrity.” The letter read, “By the above publication, you falsely and maliciously portrayed our client to the general public as a murderer, a criminal and someone lacking integrity.” The lawyers argued that the inclusion of Adeyanju’s photograph in the post left no doubt about the target of the allegations and was intended to ridicule and malign him before members of the public. “These allegations are entirely false, defamatory and were clearly intended to tarnish our client’s hard-earned reputation and expose him to public hatred, ridicule and professional embarrassment,” the letter stated.

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The legal team described Adeyanju as “a legal practitioner, widely recognized in the legal profession” and “a prominent human rights advocate” who has built a reputation through years of dedication to justice and human rights advocacy. According to the notice, the publication had already triggered insulting and degrading reactions against Adeyanju on social media. “As a direct consequence of your defamatory publication, our client has been exposed to ridicule, insults and degrading comments from members of the public, particularly within the comment section of your publication,” the lawyers said. The letter further stated that the publication had damaged Adeyanju’s personal and professional reputation. “Your reckless and malicious publication has not only lowered our client’s reputation in the eyes of well meaning members of the public, but has also caused damage to his personal and professional standing,” the notice added.

While affirming support for freedom of expression, the lawyers maintained that such rights do not extend to false and damaging allegations. “While our client firmly supports and respects the constitutional right to freedom of expression, such freedom does not extend to the publication of falsehoods or defamatory statements capable of destroying the reputation, integrity and dignity of another citizen,” the letter stated. Adeyanju’s legal team demanded an immediate retraction of the publication through the same Facebook platform and in several national newspapers and online media platforms, including Punch, Vanguard, The Sun, Daily Trust, Sahara Reporters and Premium Times. The lawyers also requested “a written and unequivocal apology” to be published on the same platforms and directed the Facebook user to stop making further statements about their client.

The notice warned that failure to comply within 72 hours would result in legal action. “Please note that if these demands are not met within 72 hours of the receipt of this letter, we have our client’s further instruction to seek legal redress without further recourse to you,” the letter stated. As of the time of this report, Onwuka had not publicly responded to the allegations or the legal demands. The notice was issued from the offices of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, located at Terrace Block D4, White Diamond Estate, Makuru Street, Off Embu Street, Off Amino Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

The development comes amid heightened legal scrutiny of Adeyanju’s social media activities. In a separate but notable case, Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has filed a ₦1.5 billion defamation lawsuit against Adeyanju over alleged defamatory social media posts. The suit, filed before the High Court of Anambra State, Onitsha Judicial Division, under writ of summons marked O/254/75, accuses Adeyanju of making false and malicious statements that damaged Obi’s reputation and integrity. Reacting to that lawsuit, Adeyanju confirmed the development, saying, “Finally, Peter Obi has sued me. I am actually happy and relieved that he didn’t chicken out in the end. Interestingly, he dragged me all the way to Anambra State, even though he is almost always in Abuja where I reside. But no shaking, we move. I will prove in court that Peter Obi is corrupt, a bigot and a fraud.”

“Retract or Face Lawsuit”: Adeyanju Demands Apology from Onwuka Over Defamatory Posts

Lagos-Ibadan Trains to Run Six Trips on Tuesday as FG Cuts Sallah Fares by Half

LAGOS – In a bid to ease transportation costs for Nigerians during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the Federal Government has approved a 50 per cent fare discount on all train services operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The discount, announced by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, takes effect from Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and will run through Monday, June 1, 2026. This makes it one of the most expansive festive transport interventions by the government in recent years, covering all NRC passenger train services nationwide.

Passengers who had already purchased tickets at full fare before the announcement are entitled to a 50 per cent rebate. According to the NRC, this rebate may be reused for train rides on or before Monday, June 1, 2026. The corporation has advised passengers to visit their points of purchase or contact NRC customer service for guidance on claiming their refund. All train schedules and timetables remain as previously advertised, except for specific adjustments on the Lagos-Ibadan corridor.

To accommodate the expected surge in passenger traffic during the Sallah period, the NRC has temporarily increased trips on the busy Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail line. On Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the corporation will operate six train trips instead of the usual four. Under the revised timetable, departures from Lagos (Mobolaji Johnson Station) are at 7:45 am, 1:40 pm, and 4:00 pm, while departures from Ibadan are at 8:00 am, 10:50 am, and 4:30 pm. The NRC clarified that this arrangement is strictly temporary, and the normal Tuesday timetable of four trips will resume immediately after the Sallah celebration.

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Additionally, the NRC noted that the recently introduced six-trip Thursday operations will be temporarily adjusted during the festive week. On Thursday, May 28, 2026, only four trips will operate. The regular six-trip Thursday schedule will resume the following week.

In a separate but significant development, the Osun State Government has announced a free Sallah train service for indigenes of the state traveling home for the celebration. The service will operate on the NRC narrow gauge corridor, with the special train departing from Iddo Station, Lagos, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The return trip from Osogbo to Lagos will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026. According to sources, the Osun State Government has paid the NRC to convey its indigenes free of charge, making this the only free train service available during the 2026 Sallah period.

While many passengers have welcomed the 50 per cent discount, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticized the Federal Government over the absence of free train rides for Muslims during Sallah. MURIC noted that free rides have been offered in previous years for Christmas and Easter, arguing that the government should extend the same gesture to Muslim faithful during Eid-el-Kabir. The group suggested that unless the government offers another free train ride during Christmas 2026, concerns of preferential treatment would persist.

The Federal Ministry of Transportation expressed appreciation for the continued support of Nigerians and wished all passengers and Muslim faithful a peaceful and joyous Eid-el-Kabir celebration. “We are committed to easing the burden of transportation during this festive period,” a ministry spokesperson said. “The 50% discount across all NRC services is a testament to that commitment.”

Lagos-Ibadan Trains to Run Six Trips on Tuesday as FG Cuts Sallah Fares by Half

7 years of force has failed, try amnesty for bandits — Gumi tells FG

Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi has called on the Federal Government to grant amnesty to armed bandits, arguing that Nigeria should adopt the same rehabilitation and reintegration approach used for repentant Boko Haram members who surrendered to the military.

Speaking during a press conference at his residence in Kaduna on Monday, May 25, 2026, Gumi said Nigeria’s prolonged reliance on military force had failed to end banditry and insurgency after nearly two decades. The cleric questioned the effectiveness of the government’s continued reliance on a kinetic approach, noting that the country had spent years battling insecurity without lasting success since the Boko Haram insurgency escalated in 2009.

“If the kinetic approach is not working for 17 years, why don’t you change the approach? Let’s change the method,” Gumi said.

Gumi argued that previous attempts at negotiation in states such as Katsina and Zamfara failed because authorities focused mainly on financial settlements without establishing long-term rehabilitation programmes. “Because what Katsina did is to bring the bandits, give them money, and let them go. Why don’t we change the method? Let’s engage them,” he said.

The cleric proposed a broader strategy centred on dialogue, rehabilitation, education and amnesty for repentant bandits willing to surrender their weapons. He called for a comprehensive approach that would involve removing armed groups from forests, educating their children, and creating sustainable rehabilitation programmes. “Let’s dislodge them from the forest. Let’s take their children and put them in school. Let’s do something different,” Gumi said.

The cleric argued that relying solely on military operations would not end insecurity, claiming that several military officers had privately admitted that force accounts for only a fraction of the solution. “The kinetic approach is just about 25 percent of solving this kind of problem,” he stated, calling for government action to address poverty, ignorance and social injustice, which he described as root causes of violence.

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According to Gumi, some bandits have expressed willingness to lay down their arms if they are guaranteed protection from arrest or retaliation after surrendering. “These people told us they are ready to lay down their arms, but what are their conditions? Has anybody listened to them?” he queried. He said many fighters fear arrest or reprisals if they surrender, insisting that a structured amnesty programme would encourage more militants to disarm voluntarily.

“They said they fear when they lay down arms, they will then be pursued and arrested. So give them the amnesty so that they don’t need to fear putting down their arms,” Gumi said. Drawing parallels with the rehabilitation programme for repentant Boko Haram members, he maintained that similar measures could produce better results than years of military confrontation. “From the number of Boko Haram repentants, which are in thousands, you can see that the same approach can be applied to the bandits,” he stated.

Gumi also used the briefing to deny allegations that he supports terrorism or violent groups, accusing what he described as “ethnic-interest groups,” individuals driven by prejudice, and online content creators of deliberately twisting his public comments and media interviews to portray him as a supporter of insecurity.

“I hereby state unequivocally that any video clip, written statement, or message attributed to me, whether directly or by innuendo, suggesting support for, justification of, protection of, or advocacy for banditry or terrorism in Nigeria or anywhere else does not emanate from me,” he declared. The cleric warned that anyone circulating “fake, manipulated and doctored materials” against him would face legal action, stating that such falsehoods are being spread to attract viewership at the expense of human suffering and sacrifice.

“I have no association with insecurity in Nigeria. On the contrary, I am a peaceful citizen who loves this country more than anything,” he said. Defending his controversial meetings with bandits in the past, he said the engagements were carried out with the knowledge of authorities and were intended to persuade fighters to surrender their weapons. “I made them swear before God that they would stop stealing, stop killing and lay down their arms, and some of them did,” he said.

The cleric linked insecurity to poverty, social injustice and corruption, urging leaders to pursue reforms capable of addressing the root causes of violence. “We need sanity in governance. We don’t want to hear stories of government officials swallowing billions of naira while talking about fighting criminals. Crime is crime,” he said.

He expressed hope that Nigeria would eventually overcome insecurity through collective efforts aimed at addressing poverty, ignorance and social injustice, which he identified as underlying drivers of violence. “I sincerely hope that our great nation will heal, and that all victims affected by this violence will find comfort in the collective determination of the nation and the international community to achieve a lasting solution to the insecurity fueled over time by ignorance, poverty, and widespread social injustice,” he added.

Gumi has repeatedly canvassed amnesty for bandits over the years. In 2021, he argued that if those involved in Nigeria’s civil war and past military coups were pardoned, repentant bandits should also be considered for forgiveness. His position has remained controversial, with critics arguing that granting blanket amnesty could embolden criminal groups and undermine justice for victims of terrorism and banditry.

7 years of force has failed, try amnesty for bandits — Gumi tells FG