The Federal Capital Territory High Court has granted Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, permission to serve court documents in his ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit against former Abia Commissioner for Information, Hon. Eze Chikamnayo, through Facebook and WhatsApp.
In a ruling delivered on October 16, 2025, Justice J.E. Obanor approved the application for substituted service, allowing court processes, including the writ of summons, to be served via Chikamnayo’s Facebook account (“Iyierioba Chikamnayo”) and his registered WhatsApp number.
The case has been adjourned to January 19, 2026, for hearing.
The governor’s legal team, led by Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), had argued that the defendant previously acknowledged receipt of a solicitor’s demand letter sent through the same platforms on October 2, 2025. The letter had requested a retraction and apology for a series of allegedly defamatory Facebook posts.
Following Chikamnayo’s failure to comply, Otti filed suit on October 8, 2025 (Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3921/2025), claiming that the posts damaged his reputation, integrity, and public standing as a leader, husband, and father.
The court documents cite several posts made by Chikamnayo between July and September 2025, including titles such as:
- “Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster” (Sept 22)
- “Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = Looting Governor” (Aug 15)
- “Government of Alex Otthief for Zignature Bank = Ruin Abia” (July 21)
Governor Otti is seeking:
- A judicial declaration that the posts are false and defamatory
- A perpetual injunction restraining Chikamnayo from publishing or circulating similar content across any media
- ₦250 million as the cost of legal proceedings
Justice Obanor further ruled that Chikamnayo must enter an appearance within 30 days of being served, or risk a default judgment.
In the earlier demand letter, Otti’s counsel noted that the defendant made direct references to “Alex Otthief,” a name clearly associated with “the only sitting governor in Nigeria bearing the name Alex Chioma Otti,” and described the posts as malicious, false, and intended to incite public hostility.
