A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Bwari on Wednesday admitted key documentary evidence in the N50 billion defamation suit filed by Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, against social media user and political commentator, Hon. Tobias Chukwudi Egeonu, also known as Hon. Toby Chuks.

At the resumed hearing of the case, marked FCT/HC/CV/66/2025, neither the defendant nor his counsel, Nnamdi U. Mba, appeared before Justice A. O. Ebong. The court confirmed from its records that the defence had participated in earlier proceedings, including the session held on March 27, 2025, and was properly notified of Wednesday’s hearing.

Following the defendant’s absence, the court allowed the claimant’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Sonny Ajala, to proceed with the case. The first prosecution witness, Arch. Uche Jude Uche, identified as a former schoolmate of Governor Otti, was called to testify.

Uche adopted a written witness statement dated January 13, 2025, and tendered a copy of the Facebook post at the centre of the case. The post, titled *“What Alex Otti Cannot Destroy Does Not Exist”*, was allegedly published by Egeonu on December 8, 2024. The court admitted the publication and other supporting documents into evidence.

The matter was adjourned to December 8, 2025, for cross-examination of the witness, should the defence choose to appear.

The suit arises from allegations made in Egeonu’s December 2024 Facebook post, in which he accused Governor Otti of financial impropriety both during his tenure as Group Managing Director of the now-defunct Diamond Bank and as Governor of Abia State. Otti’s legal team has described the post as defamatory and damaging to the governor’s reputation.

In response to the publication, Governor Otti, through his lawyers, had issued a formal demand for a public retraction and apology via Facebook and four national newspapers — ThisDay, The Punch, The Nation, and The National Ambassador. The demand also included N50 billion in damages and an additional N150 million in legal fees. After no response was received within the stipulated seven-day period, legal action was initiated.

On February 11, 2025, Justice Ebong granted permission for the claimant to serve court documents electronically, after it was confirmed that the defendant had acknowledged receipt of the demand letter via WhatsApp on December 14, 2024.

Governor Otti is seeking judicial declarations that the Facebook post was defamatory and caused significant harm to his reputation. He is also asking the court to issue an order restraining Egeonu from making further similar statements.