Court Allows Governor Otti to Serve ₦100bn Defamation Suit on Ex-Commissioner via Facebook and WhatsApp

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has granted Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, permission to serve a ₦100 billion defamation lawsuit on former Commissioner for Information, Eze Chikamnayo, through Facebook and WhatsApp.

The ruling, delivered by Justice J.E. Obanor on Wednesday, October 16, 2025, marks a major precedent in Nigeria’s legal system by allowing substituted service through digital and social media platforms.

According to the order, the court approved that the lawsuit be served via Chikamnayo’s Facebook account, “Iyierioba Chikamnayo,” and his WhatsApp number registered with the same identity. The case was adjourned to January 19, 2026, for further hearing.

Governor Otti, represented by his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), filed the suit on October 8, 2025, accusing Chikamnayo of publishing multiple defamatory posts against him on Facebook between July and September 2025.

One of the posts, dated September 22, 2025, allegedly read, “Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster.” Otti’s legal team argued that since the defamatory content was spread through social media, the defendant should be served using the same digital channels.

In the statement of claim, Governor Otti alleged that Chikamnayo’s posts caused severe damage to his reputation and personal integrity, lowering him in public estimation as a leader, husband, and father.

He is seeking ₦100 billion in general damages for reputational harm and psychological trauma, and an additional ₦250 million to cover legal expenses. The Governor is also asking the court to compel Chikamnayo to publish a formal apology in four national newspapers: ThisDay, The Nation, The Punch, and The National Ambassador.

Additionally, Otti seeks a permanent injunction restraining the defendant from making or publishing any further defamatory statements against him.

The court directed that Chikamnayo must respond within 30 days of receiving the court documents through the approved channels. Failure to do so could result in a default judgment against him.

Before the suit was filed, Otti’s legal team had sent a formal demand letter to Chikamnayo on October 2, 2025. The letter ordered him to retract all defamatory posts within seven days or face legal action.

The letter described the publications as “false, malicious, and deliberate attacks” on the Governor’s reputation, emphasizing that Dr. Otti “is the only sitting Governor in Nigeria named Alex Chioma Otti” and has never been convicted or indicted for any crime.

It accused Chikamnayo of intentionally spreading falsehoods to provoke public hatred and damage Otti’s image, resulting in “mental torture, depression, and brutal destruction of reputation.”

This case is being closely watched by legal experts and digital rights advocates, as it represents one of the most notable instances where Nigerian courts have formally recognized social media as a legitimate channel for serving legal documents.