Court Orders Interim Restraint In Otti Defamation Case

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has granted an interlocutory injunction restraining a former Abia State Commissioner for Information, Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, from making or publishing comments considered defamatory against Abia State Governor, Alex Chioma Otti, pending the determination of a N100 billion defamation suit instituted by the governor.

Justice J.E. Obanor, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, ordered the defendant to refrain from writing, authoring, sharing, circulating, broadcasting or otherwise disseminating such content on his Facebook page, Iyierioba Chikamnayo, or on other social and digital media platforms, including X, Instagram, Telegram, WhatsApp and TikTok, as well as through newspapers, radio and television, until the substantive suit is decided.

The judge stated that having reviewed the application and accompanying processes, and in the absence of any challenge, the court was satisfied that the interlocutory relief sought was appropriate. He accordingly granted Motion No. M/15807/2025 as prayed.

The matter was adjourned to January 19, 2026, for hearing.

The ruling followed a motion on notice filed by Governor Otti’s legal team, led by Dr Sonny Ajala, SAN, which alleged that the defendant continued to make publications concerning the governor despite having been served with court processes on October 17, 2025.

Court documents indicate that between October 17 and October 31, 2025, Chikamnayo allegedly made several posts on his Facebook page after service of the originating processes in the suit. The publications were said to contain statements relating to the claimant.

In an affidavit supporting the motion, sworn to by Ifeanyi Michael Agbo, practice manager at Deeplaw Associates, the claimant’s legal team stated that the defendant, a legal practitioner, continued to make the publications while being aware of the pending court action.

The affidavit further stated that the publications could affect the claimant’s reputation and public perception.

In a written address, counsel to the governor argued that the continued publications were inconsistent with the doctrine of sub judice, which discourages public commentary capable of influencing matters before a court.

The claimant’s counsel also cited Rule 30 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023, which requires lawyers to avoid conduct that may interfere with the administration of justice.

The substantive suit, filed on October 8, 2025, followed a demand letter dated October 2, 2025, requesting a retraction of the disputed publications, which the claimant said was not complied with within the stipulated period.

In the suit, Governor Otti is seeking a declaration that the alleged publications adversely affected his reputation and public standing. He is claiming N100 billion in damages for reputational injury, as well as emotional and psychological distress.

The governor is also asking the court to order the defendant to publish an apology on his Facebook page and in selected national newspapers, grant a perpetual injunction restraining further publications, and award N250 million as cost of the action.

Earlier, on October 16, 2025, the court granted leave to serve court processes on the defendant through substituted means, including his Facebook page and phone and WhatsApp numbers, after being informed that those channels were effective means of reaching him.

The defendant was directed to enter an appearance within 30 days of service, failing which the court may proceed accordingly.