Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has instituted a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against the Abia State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Uche Aguoru, at the High Court of Abia State, Umuahia Judicial Division.
According to the court filings, the legal action follows a series of Facebook posts allegedly published by Aguoru, which accused Governor Otti of corruption, diversion of public funds, abuse of office, political inducement, interference in the affairs of another political party, and attempts to intimidate the judiciary.
Governor Otti, through the suit, contends that the allegations are false, malicious, and defamatory, arguing that they have caused significant damage to his reputation and public image. He maintains that the claims lack factual basis and were made with the intention of tarnishing his character.
As part of the reliefs sought, the Governor is asking the court to declare the publications defamatory, order the defendant to retract the statements, and publish an unreserved public apology. He is also seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent further publication of similar allegations, alongside ₦5 billion in general damages and the cost of the legal proceedings.
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The case is now before the High Court of Abia State for judicial consideration. As the matter remains pending before the court, the allegations and claims contained in the suit have not been judicially determined, and the legal process will ultimately decide the issues raised by both parties.
