The planned hearing in the N550 million defamation suit filed against a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, was stalled on Thursday owing to the absence of his lawyer, Ken Njemanze (SAN).

Justice M.S. Idris of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi had on June 17 scheduled the case for June 19 for a definite hearing when Njemanze failed to attend court on the grounds of Ill health.

Senator Chris Anyanwu filed the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/1058/2025 against Ohakim over an interview he granted to The Nation Newspaper, which was published on January 12, 2025, in which she alleged that the former governor defamed her.

The former senator described the comments by Ohakim as “false and damaging”, adding that she promptly issued a press statement to refute the claims and, through her solicitors, demanded a public retraction from Ohakim.

Anyanwu, who is seeking N550 million in damages, also prayed the court to compel Ohakim to retract the statements and publish a full-page apology in The Sun and The Nation newspapers.

Ohakim filed a defence in which he admitted to the alleged defamatory comments and justified them as fair comment.

At the mention of the case on Thursday, Adekunle Kosoko announced the appearance of the claimant, but noted that no lawyer appeared for the ex-governor.

Kosoko, who was displeased with the development, said he received a letter from Ohakim’s lawyer the previous day claiming he was still ill.

He said it was disrespectful of the court for Ohakim’s lawyer to send just a letter when three lawyers represented him (Ohakim) on the previous date.

Justice Idris however, said he would grant an adjournment in view of the fact that Njemanze’s request for adjournment was based on health grounds.

Kosoko then applied that if by the next adjourned date Ohakim’s lawyers, particularly the lead lawyer (Njemanze), who applied for the adjournment on grounds of I’ll health, fail to attend court, the case will proceed even without the SAN.

He said two of the claimants’ witnesses, who were in court on the last date and were equally in court on Thursday, even though they came from Lagos and Benue states.

Ruling, Justice Idris adjourned till Oct 13, 2025, for a definite hearing.

The judge said adjournment is principally at the instance of the first defendant’s lead lawyer (Njemanze).

He ordered that a hearing notice should be served on all defendants – Ohakim and Vintage Press Ltd, publishers of The Nation newspapers. (The Nation)