19th January 2026, NewsOrient, Law And Society, News. Photo Captions: Dr Alex Chioma Otti. (2, 3) Copies of referred Court Documents

The resumed sitting of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on the libel case instituted by Dr Alex Otti against Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, today, 19/1/2026, witnessed significant twists and interesting drama.

For example, when during the course of the proceedings, the Claimant’s Counsel reminded the court of a Motion Ex-Parte he filed in the court earlier, the court granted his prayer to put the Defendant “on notice of the consequence of disobedience to the court order.”

Governor Otti’s Counsel, Dr Sonny Ajala SAN, in the Motion Ex-Parte, told the court that since the honourable court issued an order of interlocutory injunction on 18/12/2025, restraining the defendant from further publication of libelous contents against the claimant, the defendant had continued, in disobedience to the court order, to publish libelous contents against the claimant in his Facebook page, Iyierioba.

In a bench ruling on the motion, the court granted the ex-parte application, noting that “whoever is sustaining the online publications in spite of the order of injunction made by the court on 18/12/2025 should be put on notice of the consequence of disobedience to court order.”

NewsOrient reports that with this clear order, the defendant, Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, may go to prison for contempt of court.

It all began, when, in the course of the substantive matter, Dr. Sonny Ajala, SAN, informed the court that he has a pending Motion Ex-Parte filed on January 12, 2026, asking the court to direct the Registrar of the court to issue Form 87 (notice of consequence of disobedience of court order) against the Defendant.

The Senior Counsel referred to copious affidavit evidence supported with eight exhibits of disparaging publications made by the Defendant on his Facebook Wall, ‘Iyierioba since 18/12/2025 when the court made an order of interlocutory injunction restraining Eze Chikamnayo from making further publications howsoever described against the Claimant.”

Notwithstanding that the application is ex-parte as required by law (that is between the Applicant and the Court), NewsOrient observed in court that Counsel to the Defendant intermittently interjected the Senior Counsel arguing that “the defense of the Defendant is that ‘Eze Chikamnayo is not the owner of the Facebook page-‘Iyierioba Chikamnayo.”

Counsel to the Defendant also contended that his client, “Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, is not bound by the order of injunction since he is not the same person as ‘Iyierioba Chikamnayo.”

In a bench ruling however, the court granted the ex-parte application.

Already, Form 87 under the FCT High Court Rules, 2025, being the equivalent of Form 48 under the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act, has been issued, signed and served by the Registrar of the Court on Eze Chikamnayo, the Defendant/Alleged Contemnor of the order of the court made on 18/12/2025.

Another significant development was noted during the trial of the substantive matter on libel.

S. M. Oluebube, who appeared for the Defendant, Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, served his Statement of Defence on the legal team of the Claimant in the open court.

He also served a Motion On Notice for striking out the Writ, on the ground that the Claimant, Dr Alex Otti, did not personally sign the Pre-Action Counseling Certificate.

This contention was besides the fact that the same Pre-Action Counseling Certificate was signed by Arch Jude Uche for/on behalf of the Claimant.

The drama unfolded further when the Senior Counsel for the Claimant drew attention of the court to Order 30 of the court’s rule and contended “that the application of the Defendant, having just been served today, is not ripe for hearing.”

The court and counsel to the Defendant acquiesced. So, the court adjourned hearing in the matter to 25/2/2026.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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