Chris Anyanwu’s N550m Defamation Suit Against Ikedi Ohakim Resumes in Abuja, Adjourned to November 4

The N550 million defamation suit filed by Senator Chris Anyanwu against former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim resumed on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja, after about four adjournments. The court fixed November 4, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.

The case, marked FCT/HC/CV/1058/2025, came up for further hearing, with Anyanwu’s counsel, Adekunle Kosoko, moving a motion to regularise the claimant’s Reply to Ohakim’s Amended Statement of Defence. Counsel to the former governor, K.C.O. Njemanze, SAN, told the court that the defence needed to examine the process filed by the claimant in response to the application.

The suit stems from comments allegedly attributed to Ohakim in an interview published by The Nation newspaper on January 12, 2025, concerning Anyanwu and her memoir, Bold Leap. Ohakim has denied granting the interview and rejected responsibility for the publication and the statements at the centre of the case.

In his Amended Statement of Defence, Ohakim denied writing, making or publishing the disputed statements. He also alleged that Anyanwu had concocted and issued a press statement to support the institution of the suit. The former governor further argued that the statements were not defamatory and challenged the competence of the case, as well as the court’s jurisdiction to hear it.

In her Amended Reply, Anyanwu rejected the allegations against her and maintained that the statements were defamatory and made with malice. She specifically challenged claims that she had written an apology to the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and relied on military connections during her political career. She alleged that Ohakim had claimed to possess an apology letter and indicated that he would publish it but failed to do so.

Anyanwu further alleged that the disputed statements were intended to damage her reputation and give Ohakim a political advantage. She also stated that Vintage Press Limited, the publisher of The Nation, had apologised to her both privately and publicly over the publication. She maintained that Bold Leap was an account of her life and experiences and denied defaming the former governor in the memoir.

Meanwhile, the claimant’s witnesses were present in court, including Dr. Joyce Ejukonemu, who had earlier given evidence-in-chief and was scheduled for cross-examination. With the matter adjourned to November 4, 2026, the parties are expected to continue presenting their cases as the court considers the disputed claims.