A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has permitted Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to serve court papers in his ₦100 billion defamation suit against former Information Commissioner, Eze Chikamnayo, through social media platforms.
In a ruling on October 16, 2025, Justice J.E. Obanor approved the governor’s request for substituted service, allowing the writ of summons and other court documents to be delivered to Chikamnayo via his Facebook account, “Iyierioba Chikamnayo,” and his registered WhatsApp line.
The case has been adjourned to January 19, 2026, for hearing.
Governor Otti’s lawyer, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), told the court that the defendant had earlier received a solicitor’s letter through the same channels, making electronic service both reasonable and effective.
The letter, dated October 2, 2025, had demanded a retraction of several alleged defamatory posts.
The lawsuit, filed on October 8, 2025 (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3921/2025), followed Chikamnayo’s alleged refusal to issue a public apology or withdraw the posts.
Governor Otti claims the online statements damaged his “reputation, goodwill, and standing as a person, husband, father, and political leader.”
The court documents listed several controversial Facebook posts, including those titled “Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster” (September 22, 2025), “Still on the matter” (September 9, 2025), and “Government of Alex Otthief for Zignature Bank = Ruin Abia” (July 21, 2025).
Otti is demanding ₦100 billion in damages for loss of reputation and emotional distress, ₦250 million in litigation costs, and a perpetual injunction barring Chikamnayo from publishing or sharing any future defamatory content.
He also seeks public apologies to be published on Facebook and in ThisDay, The Nation, The Punch, and National Ambassador newspapers.
Justice Obanor directed that the defendant must enter an appearance within 30 days of receiving the documents or risk a default judgment.
In his earlier letter, Ajala wrote that Otti was “the only sitting governor in Nigeria bearing the name Alex Chioma Otti,” adding that the publications were “false, malicious, and calculated to instigate public hatred.”
Otti’s camp maintains that his “integrity has remained stainless” since his days as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc before joining politics.
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