Governor Otti Drags Lawyer to Court, Demands N100bn for Calling Him ‘Otthief’

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has taken legal action against a former commissioner and lawyer, Hon. Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, demanding N100 billion in damages for allegedly defaming him on Facebook.

The governor, through his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), said Chikamnayo made a series of malicious posts where he repeatedly referred to him as “Otthief” and accused him of corruption.

Otti insisted the statements were false and targeted at tarnishing his image.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, the Senior Advocate warned that the governor’s reputation has been “brutally destroyed” by the defamatory remarks.

The publications was shared between August and September, carried captions such as “Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster!” and “Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = looting governor!”

Ajala noted that the governor has never been convicted or indicted by any court, stressing that Otti’s long-standing reputation as a respected banker and former Diamond Bank Chief Executive remains intact. He said the posts caused “mental torture, depression, and denigration” to his client.

Governor Otti is demanding a full retraction of the posts, a public apology on Facebook and in four national newspapers, as well as a written undertaking by Chikamnayo to desist from further attacks.

However, the SAN warned that if the lawyer fails to comply within seven days, the governor will proceed to court to enforce his demands.