Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has escalated a defamation row by demanding ₦100 billion in damages from a Facebook user accused of publishing false and damaging posts against him.
In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala (SAN), Otti’s legal team said the posts, which appeared between August and September, contained allegations the governor “unequivocally denies.” Although the letter did not reproduce the specific content, it maintained that the statements were injurious to Otti’s reputation.
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Ajala, speaking to journalists, said Otti demands immediate redress, stressing that the governor has no criminal indictment or conviction. He described the online publications as malicious, adding that they had inflicted serious reputational harm.
The notice spells out tough conditions for resolution: retract the posts on the same Facebook account, publish retractions in four national newspapers, issue a written apology on Facebook, pay ₦100 billion in damages, and provide a written undertaking not to repeat the allegations. The legal team gave a seven-day deadline and warned that failure to comply would trigger formal legal action.