A High Court of the Capital Territory, sitting in Jabi, Abuja, has adjourned the defamation suit filed by former senator Chris Anyanwu against former Imo State governor, Ikedi Ohakim, to 17 March 2026.

The case, which was earlier fixed for hearing on 19 January, was on Monday shifted due to the indisposition of the presiding judge.

The suit arose from comments allegedly made by Ohakim following the publication of Anyanwu’s book, Bold Leap.

In subsequent press statements and media interviews, Ohakim reportedly claimed that the former senator wrote a letter of apology to the late military ruler, General Sani Abacha, after criticising his regime, and further alleged that her rise to national prominence was propelled by “military boys.”

Anyanwu, through her counsel, Umeh Kalu, SAN, is specifically challenging an interview Ohakim granted to The Nation newspaper on 12 January 2025, which she contends is defamatory.

She had demanded that Ohakim substantiate the claims and issue a retraction in two national newspapers, including The Nation.

Rather than apologising, Ohakim reportedly issued a press statement admitting to making the remarks but defending them as “fair comment.”

He also indicated his intention to publish the alleged apology letter to Abacha in a forthcoming book.

In a related development, The Nation newspaper published a full retraction and apology to Anyanwu on 1 June 2025, after the commencement of the suit.

The latest adjournment marks the fourth delay in the matter since hearing began in June 2025.

Earlier adjournments were attributed to the ill health of the lead defence counsel, a situation that reportedly generated controversy after the plaintiff was not notified in advance, resulting in avoidable travel costs for witnesses.

So far, only one of the five witnesses listed by the plaintiff has testified.

The presiding judge, Justice M. I. Sani, had earlier declined to award costs against the defence for the previous delays.

Reacting to the adjournment, Senator Anyanwu expressed sympathy for the judge over his health and expressed hope that the case would proceed expeditiously upon his return. (Guardian)

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