Ex-lawmaker, Ezeugwu, sues Odinkalu

One-Time Majority Leader of Enugu State House of Assembly, Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, has dragged activist and lawyer, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, before an Enugu State High Court over alleged defamatory publication.

Ezeugwu, in suit No E/360/2023, through his counsel, Ike Ozor, is praying the court for an order that the publication of the plaintiff’s photograph and phone number by the defendant on Facebook, Twitter and Google, describing him as dishonourable, was defamatory.

He claimed that the defendant’s defamatory words were written thus: “Ikechukwu Ezeugwu is leader and dis-honourable member representing Udenu in Enugu State House of Assembly. He is the “sponsor” of this criminal Bill to pay four men & their wives N1.25b of the state’s money annually… Let’s give him #Oxygen. If u want his cell number, pls contact me on  https://t.co/OFXgFw47Er.”

According to him, it is defamatory of the plaintiff’s image and standing, and lowers him and his family in the estimation of right-thinking men and conveys an imputation on him disparaging or injurious to him in his office.

Consequently, he is asking for “An order that the publication of the plaintiff’s photograph and phone number by the defendant on Facebook, Twitter and Goggle, carries with it the undertone and potential of inciting Enugu people against the plaintiff, his properties and family members.

“An order directing the defendant to forthwith delete the malicious publication on his Facebook, Twitter and Goggle walls such that it will no longer pop up in the Goggle profile of the plaintiff.

“An order that the defendant publish in four national dailies a public apology to the plaintiff for defamatory publication.

“An order of N5 billion damages against the defendant for defamation.”

Ezeugwu, in his statement of claim stated that he had served as chairman of several key committees, including Enugu State House Committee on Tenders Board and South East Legislative Governance Reform Committee.

The publication, which included Ezeugwu’s photograph and phone number, described him as the “sponsor” of a purported “criminal Bill” aimed at allocating a substantial sum of the state’s funds to four men and their wives yearly.

The plaintiff argued that the defendant’s publication not only misrepresented the true content of the bill, but also portrayed him in a negative light, branding the proposed legislation as “wrong, terrible, wicked, sinful and depraved.”

Ezeugwu is further claiming that such a portrayal was defamatory and calculated to subject him to public odium, potentially inciting the people of Enugu against him, his family and properties.

Furthermore, he claimed that the defendant’s actions have replicated the tensions and turmoil experienced during the EndSARS movement.

He added that he would during trial, provided evidence of the publication and subsequent replies from the defendant’s followers, which contained abusive and insightful statements targeting him.

Additionally, the plaintiff stated that the defendant’s social media accounts had been sanctioned by Twitter due to the malicious publication, leading to the blocking of the defendant’s account.