The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has filed a suit against Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Igboho, before an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, for alleged unconstitutional publication of a telephone conversation private between him and another person, without their consent.

Adams, in a suit marked M/1006/2024 filed for enforcement of his fundamental rights, said the respondents have injured him and his high office of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland by publication.

In his original Motion on Notice dated October 15, 2024, Adams sought a writ of certiorari for a declaration that, as a citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has a constitutionally guaranteed right to the privacy of his home, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphy. communications under section 37 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

Its Rules on Fundamental Rights Proceedings instituted under Sections 27, 37 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended and the Implementing Act, Cap, A9, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

And also Sections 37 and 46 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

The plaintiff also asks the court to declare that “it is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional for anyone to surreptitiously record the private telephone conversation between other persons without the consent and authority of the parties to the conversation.

“A statement that it is illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional for the defendant to secretly record and release or publish the private telephone conversation between the plaintiff and another person without the plaintiff’s consent and authority.”

The monarch stated that the act of the respondent (Igboho) to publish or broadcast the private telephone conversation between him and another person to the general public through social media without his knowledge is malicious, flagrant, reckless and gross to his fundamental right to privacy guaranteed. under the Section Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and seriously injured him in his extremely high office by the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland.

He is therefore demanding that the sum of N5 billion be general and exemplary damages against Igboho.

In a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of his motion, Adams said that sometime in April 2024, Igboho announced on social media that he was in possession of a recorded private telephone conversation that Adams had with a Mr. Nurudeen Banjo, which is based in the United States of America.

“Since then, the respondent has repeatedly and viciously attacked the applicant both on traditional media (print and audio-visual) and on social media, accusing the applicant of labeling him (the respondent) as a political bandit/mercenary, criminal , fraudster. and so on in said recorded private telephone conversation.

“Public exposure of plaintiff’s private telephone conversation with a third party, which was surreptitiously recorded by defendant without his knowledge, consent, and authority, and which defendant, without his knowledge, consent, and authority, maliciously released to the general public did not not only did it infringe on the applicant’s private and fundamental rights, it also caused him serious embarrassment to the multitude of Nigerians.”

Therefore, Adams said it is unfair and improper for private telephone communications or conversations between individuals to be leaked or exposed by a third party without the knowledge, consent and approval of any of the conversationalists.

“Public exposure of the applicant’s private telephone conversation with
said Mr. Nurudeen Banjo, which the defendant or any person secretly recorded and released to the generality of Nigerians without the knowledge, consent and authority, not only violated the plaintiff’s fundamental rights but also caused serious embarrassment to the crowd. of Nigerians.”

The case has not been assigned, as the defendant has not yet filed an answer to the lawsuit.