Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has sued Chief Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, an activist for the Yoruba Nation, in an Oyo State High Court for ₦5 billion.

Adams asserts that Igboho has harmed his reputation by unlawfully recording and making public a private phone call he had with another person without his permission.

In action number M/1006/2024, Adams cites Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as modified) of Nigeria, which protects the right to privacy, in order to demand the enforcement of his basic rights.

He calls Igboho’s conduct “reckless and injurious” to his position as the Aare Ona Kakanfo and highlights that it is “unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional” to release private phone conversations without authorisation.

Adams claims that Igboho caused him “serious embarrassment” in April 2024 when he posted the taped discussion publicly on social media. In order to make up for the harm he feels was done, Adams claims that his private rights were infringed and requests exemplary damages.

The lawsuit will challenge the extent to which people can record and publish conversations without the approval of all participants, underscoring Nigeria’s privacy constraints.