The High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered a critic of a federal lawmaker, Chisom Achor, to apologise to Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah in national newspapers and pay ₦10 million as damages for defamation.
The judgment was delivered on Monday, July 13, 2026, by Justice Franklin Edeme in Suit No. HAB/224/2025.
The court held that Achor defamed Ogah and consequently awarded ₦10 million in damages in favour of the plaintiff.
In addition to the monetary award, the court directed the defendant to publish a public apology to Ogah in national newspapers within two weeks.
The court also restrained Achor from making any further defamatory statements or social media publications against the lawmaker.
Justice Edeme further ordered the defendant to pay ₦200,000 as the cost of litigation to the plaintiff's legal team.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Ogah, Barr. S. Ekigbo, described the verdict as a victory for justice and the rule of law.
According to him, the judgment demonstrates that individuals whose reputations have been unjustly damaged can seek redress through the courts rather than resorting to self-help.
He also urged young people and social media users to exercise restraint and verify information before making allegations capable of damaging the reputation of others.
The suit was instituted on behalf of Rt. Hon. Chinedu Ogah by the legal team led by Barr. Mba Ukwueni (SAN), alongside Barr. S. Ekigbo.
