Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Hon. Tobias Chukwudi Egeonu, popularly known as Hon. Toby Chuks, demanding a retraction, public apology, and ₦50 billion in damages over an allegedly defamatory Facebook post.
The demand was conveyed in a letter dated December 13, 2024, from Dr. Sonny Ajala, SAN, of Deeplaw Associates, representing Governor Otti. The contentious post, titled “What Alex Otti Cannot Destroy Does Not Exist: Vol. 1,” was published on December 8, 2024, on Egeonu’s Facebook page.
In the post, Egeonu, who identifies as a public affairs analyst, accused Governor Otti of financial mismanagement during his tenure as Group Managing Director of the defunct Diamond Bank and corruption in his current role as governor.
Describing the publication as “a libelous fabrication from the pits of hell,” Ajala stated that the allegations were false and malicious, causing “irreparable harm” to Otti’s reputation among the public, the financial community, and Abia State residents.
The letter outlined three key demands from Egeonu:
- Retraction: A written retraction of the defamatory post, to be published on Egeonu’s Facebook page and in four national newspapers: ThisDay, The Punch, The Nation, and National Ambassador.
- Apology: A public apology to be published on Egeonu’s Facebook page.
- Compensation: ₦50 billion in damages for reputational harm.
Failure to meet these demands within seven days, the letter warned, would lead to legal action.
Ajala accused Egeonu of intentionally spreading falsehoods, stating that the Facebook post had been widely read, shared, and circulated across social media platforms, further amplifying its damaging impact.
“Our client categorically denies the baseless claims made in your post. These allegations are blatant lies, crafted to tarnish his impeccable reputation,” the letter read.
Ajala also dismissed any suggestion of criminal indictment against Otti, labeling the accusations as “wicked and malicious.”
The letter highlighted that Egeonu’s publication had attracted significant attention, including comments and shares on Facebook and WhatsApp groups, exacerbating the reputational damage to the governor.
“Governor Otti has maintained a clean record in both his banking career and public service,” Ajala asserted. He emphasized that the defamatory post had caused undue distress and could mislead the public and stakeholders about the governor’s character and integrity.
In conclusion, Ajala reiterated the following demands: a public retraction on Facebook and four national newspapers; a written apology on Facebook; and compensation of ₦50 billion for damages caused by the defamatory publication.
The legal team warned that failure to comply would result in litigation to seek redress for the harm caused to Governor Otti’s reputation.
Egeonu has yet to respond publicly to the allegations or the legal demands.
