Hearing in the N550 million libel suit filed by Senator Chris Anyanwu against former Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim stalled on Monday after the ex-governor amended his statement of defence midway through the proceedings.

The case, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Jabi, Abuja, could not proceed to the planned cross-examination of the claimant’s witness, Dr Joyce Ejukonemu, because both parties needed to regularise their court processes.

Anyanwu’s counsel, Adekunle Kosoko, told the court that he had filed a motion seeking to regularise the claimant’s reply to Ohakim’s amended statement of defence.

Counsel to Ohakim, Ken Njemanze (SAN), said the defence needed time to examine the document the claimant filed in response to the amended defence.

In paragraphs 7 and 9 of his amended statement of defence, Ohakim denied writing, uttering, publishing or causing the publication of the statements complained of by Anyanwu.

The former governor also denied granting the interview attributed to him in a national newspaper on January 12, 2025, which formed the basis of Anyanwu’s suit.

Ohakim further alleged that Anyanwu “concocted and issued a press statement” to institute the action.

The suit followed comments attributed to Ohakim in an interview published by The Nation in January 2025 concerning Anyanwu and her memoir, “Bold Leap.”

In her amended reply, Anyanwu denied the allegations contained in Ohakim’s amended defence and maintained that the statements complained of were defamatory and published maliciously.

She particularly disputed the alleged claim that she had written an apology to the late former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, and that she relied on military connections during her political career.

According to Anyanwu, Ohakim claimed that an apology letter existed and promised to publish it, but failed to do so.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to allow the parties to regularise and respond to the relevant processes before the hearing can continue.

Anyanwu further alleged that the statements were made to damage her reputation and secure political advantage.

These allegations remain matters for determination at trial.

She also stated that Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, had apologised to her both privately and publicly over the publication.

Anyanwu maintained that Bold Leap was an account of her life and experiences and denied defaming Ohakim in the memoir.

Ohakim, however, denied that the complained-of statements were defamatory. His amended defence also challenged the suit’s competence and contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain it.

The defence further denied several assertions Anyanwu made about her political and professional career and indicated that the issues would be contested at trial.

The claimant’s witnesses, including Dr. Ejukonemu, were in court on Monday. Her cross-examination, which was expected to proceed, was deferred following the interlocutory application.

The case has been adjourned until November 4, 2026, to continue the trial. (The Nation)