Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has threatened legal action against Eze Chikamnayo, also known as Iyierioba Chikamnayo, for ‘defamatory and malicious’ publications against him.
In an October 2 letter signed by his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), Otti demanded a written retraction, public apology, and compensation of N100 billion from Chikamnayo.
The governor accused the former commissioner of persistently publishing libellous posts on his Facebook page, ‘Iyierioba Chikamnayo.’
Among the publications were those titled ‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster!’ (September 22, 2025), ‘Fighting Promax!!!!’ (September 21, 2025), ‘Old or new Abia?’ (September 14, 2025), ‘Sabbath Message’ (September 13, 2025), and ‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = looting governor!’ (August 15, 2025).
Ajala, of Deeplaw Associates, said the posts were targeted at Otti, noting ‘our client, for the avoidance of doubt, is the only governor and chief executive of a state in the 36 states of Nigeria who bears the name Alex Chioma Otti. Thus, no effort is required by the public to link all your spiteful, false and defamatory attacks to him.’
He said Otti is a man of integrity with a distinguished career in banking, where he rose to managing director/chief executive of Diamond Bank Plc before entering politics.
The letter said Otti noticed the Facebook posts on September 29, while in Abuja for the conferment of SAN on the attorney-general.
Ajala said Otti ‘denies your malicious defamatory materials,’ emphasising that the governor has no criminal indictment or conviction by any court of law. He added that the posts inflicted ‘mental torture, depression, denigration, and brutal destruction of his reputation built over decades.’
The governor is demanding a written retraction of the posts on the same Facebook page and in four national newspapers. He is also seeking a written public apology on the same page, compensation of N100 billion, and an undertaking to desist from such poswts.
The letter warned that failure to comply in seven days would leave Otti with no option but to seek redress in court.