FCT High Court authorizes Facebook and WhatsApp service in Alex Otti defamation suit against Eze Chikamnayo over alleged N100bn online smear campaign.
The ongoing Alex Otti defamation suit has entered a decisive phase after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court granted permission to serve court processes through Facebook and WhatsApp.
The case, filed by Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, seeks ₦100 billion in damages against former Information Commissioner Hon. Eze Chikamnayo for allegedly publishing false and malicious statements on social media.
In a ruling delivered on October 16, 2025, Justice J.E. Obanor approved the governor’s request for substituted service, allowing the court bailiff to transmit the summons and other legal documents to the defendant through his verified Facebook account, “Iyierioba Chikamnayo,” and his registered WhatsApp number.
The landmark decision highlights how Nigerian courts are increasingly adapting to technological realities, especially in cases involving online defamation and digital communication.
Justice Obanor’s ruling came after Otti’s counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), argued that conventional service had become impossible because the defendant was deliberately evading legal correspondence.
The court agreed that the defendant actively used the same Facebook and WhatsApp accounts to communicate publicly and privately, making them appropriate for substituted service.
The court directed Chikamnayo to enter an appearance within 30 days of receiving the electronic service or risk judgment being entered in default. The case was adjourned to January 19, 2026, for hearing of the substantive matter.
The Alex Otti defamation suit originated from a demand letter dated October 2, 2025, sent to Chikamnayo through Facebook and WhatsApp.
The letter requested a public retraction and apology for several online posts described as “defamatory, false, and injurious.”
When the defendant ignored the demand, Otti, through his legal team, filed the ₦100 billion suit on October 8, 2025 (Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/3921/2025).
The suit accuses Chikamnayo of persistently spreading falsehoods designed to tarnish the governor’s reputation and mislead the public.
According to court documents, the Alex Otti defamation suit references multiple Facebook posts made between July and September 2025, where Chikamnayo allegedly referred to the governor using derogatory and accusatory language. Some of the cited posts include:
“Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster” (September 22, 2025)
“Old or New Abia?” (September 14, 2025)
“Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = Looting Governor” (August 15, 2025)
“Government of Alex Otthief for Zignature Bank = Ruin Abia” (July 21, 2025)
The governor contends that these statements were fabricated, malicious, and calculated to destroy his personal integrity, family image, and political standing.
His lawyers argue that the widespread nature of the posts caused immense psychological trauma and reputational damage.
Through the Alex Otti defamation suit, the governor is seeking:
1. ₦100 billion in general damages for loss of reputation and emotional suffering.
2. A court order compelling Chikamnayo to issue a public apology for each post on Facebook and in national dailies such as ThisDay, The Nation, The Punch, and National Ambassador.
3. A perpetual injunction preventing the defendant from publishing or sharing any further defamatory content about the claimant on any platform.
4. ₦250 million as the cost of litigation and legal representation.
Otti’s counsel emphasized that the posts portrayed the governor as corrupt and dishonest, which he described as “a grave attempt to assassinate character through falsehood and mischief.”
Before the lawsuit, Otti’s legal representative, Dr. Sonny Ajala, had issued a stern warning letter to the defendant, affirming that the defamatory posts clearly referred to Governor Alex Chioma Otti, the only sitting governor in Nigeria bearing that name.
The letter described the publications as “maliciously designed to incite public hatred and ridicule.”
Ajala reminded Chikamnayo of Otti’s long-standing record of professional integrity, noting his achievements as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Bank Plc before venturing into politics.
The lawyer stated that the posts caused “unquantifiable emotional distress, humiliation, and destruction of a reputation built over decades.”
Despite the warning, Chikamnayo allegedly continued publishing similar content, prompting the current court action.
Legal experts have described the Alex Otti defamation suit as a potential landmark case in Nigerian jurisprudence, especially concerning electronic service of court processes and online defamation.
According to legal analyst Barrister Funmi Alade, the ruling “signals the judiciary’s readiness to embrace digital transformation,” adding that social media is now a legitimate avenue for official legal notifications when personal service fails.
Another lawyer, Chuka Nwankwo, noted that the court’s decision also underscores the growing seriousness of social media accountability, warning that individuals who defame others online can face severe legal and financial consequences.
The case also reignites debate about balancing freedom of expression with protection of reputation in the digital space. While social media enables public scrutiny of leaders, it also amplifies the spread of misinformation and personal attacks — issues at the heart of Otti’s claim.
If the Alex Otti defamation suit succeeds, it may establish a powerful legal precedent for holding social media users accountable for false publications.
Analysts suggest it could encourage politicians, business leaders, and private citizens to pursue justice against online defamation through digital evidence.
Moreover, the court’s approval of Facebook and WhatsApp service demonstrates Nigeria’s readiness to modernize legal processes, ensuring that technology is used to enhance justice rather than hinder it.
Observers believe the January 19, 2026 hearing will be closely watched across the legal community, as it may determine the extent of responsibility social media users bear for their online conduct.
The FCT High Court’s ruling on substituted service has not only accelerated the progress of the Alex Otti defamation suit but also opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s judicial innovation.
For Governor Otti, the case represents a fight to defend his personal integrity, public image, and moral standing against what he considers a smear campaign driven by falsehood. For the wider public, it serves as a warning that the digital space is not immune from the rule of law.
As the case moves toward hearing, it stands as both a legal and moral test — one that will define the boundaries between free speech and defamation in Nigeria’s fast-evolving information age.
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