Former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim has denied granting the January 12, 2025 interview published by The Nation which forms the basis of the N550 million defamation suit instituted against him by former Senator Chris Anyanwu.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
Ohakim made the denial in his amended statement of defence in Suit No. FCT/HC/CV/1058/2025, which came up before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Jabi, Abuja, on Monday, September 28, 2026.
The matter had been scheduled for continuation of trial and cross-examination of one of Anyanwu’s witnesses, Dr. Joyce Ejukonemu, but proceedings could not advance after counsel to Anyanwu, Adekunle Kosoko, moved an application seeking to regularise the claimant’s reply to Ohakim’s amended statement of defence.
Counsel to Ohakim, K.C.O. Njemanze, SAN, told the court that the defence required time to examine the fresh process filed by the claimant.
The court consequently adjourned the case until November 4, 2026, for continuation of trial.
In paragraphs seven and nine of his amended defence, Ohakim specifically denied writing, issuing, publishing or causing the publication of the statements complained of by Anyanwu.
“The 1st Defendant denies that he wrote, issued, published and/or caused to be published the words” complained of, his defence stated.
He further maintained that he did not write, utter, publish or cause the publication of the allegedly defamatory statements and denied granting the interview attributed to him.
Ohakim also alleged in his amended defence that Anyanwu “concocted and issued a press statement” for the purpose of the suit, an allegation the former senator has denied.
The suit arose from statements attributed to Ohakim in an interview published by The Nation on January 12, 2025, following the publication of Anyanwu’s memoir, Bold Leap.
Anyanwu contends that some of the statements in the publication were false, defamatory and damaging to her reputation.
Among the issues she specifically disputes is an alleged assertion that she wrote an apology letter to the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as well as claims concerning the role of military connections in her political and professional career.
In her amended reply to Ohakim’s amended defence, Anyanwu denied the allegations made against her and maintained that the statements complained of were published with malice and intended to damage her reputation and confer political advantage.
She also pleaded that Ohakim had claimed that an apology letter to Abacha existed and had indicated that he would publish it, but had not done so.
Those allegations remain disputed and have not been determined by the court.
Anyanwu also maintained that her memoir was an account of her life and experiences and denied defaming Ohakim in the book.
Ohakim, on his part, denied liability for defamation and also challenged the competence of the action and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain it.
His amended defence further disputes several assertions made by Anyanwu concerning her political and professional career.
The amended defence represents a notable development in the litigation because earlier reports on the case had described Ohakim’s original defence as acknowledging comments attributed to him while contending that they amounted to fair comment. His latest amended pleading now expressly denies granting the interview and denies writing, uttering or publishing the words complained of.
The Nation and its publisher, Vintage Press Limited, had originally been joined as co-defendants in the suit.
The newspaper subsequently published a retraction and apology, stating in May 2025 that it had published the January 12 interview without independently confirming the veracity of the claims contained in it.
“We hereby retract them,” the newspaper said, adding an apology to Anyanwu for the inconvenience and embarrassment caused by the publication.
Following that retraction and apology, Anyanwu discontinued the action against Vintage Press, resulting in the newspaper being struck out of the suit.
Anyanwu is seeking N550 million in damages against Ohakim over the disputed statements, alongside other reliefs connected with the alleged defamation.
The suit has experienced several adjournments since proceedings began, including delays attributed at different times to the absence of defence counsel and the indisposition of the presiding judge.
With the claimant’s amended reply now before the court and Ohakim’s amended defence expressly disputing authorship and publication of the statements, the matter will return on November 4, 2026, for continuation of trial.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
