An Ebonyi State High Court has ordered social media critic and former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Publicity Secretary in Ebonyi State, Nwoba Chika Nwoba, to pay ₦5 million in damages to lawyer Barr. Chinedu Ugadu over defamatory statements made against him on social media.
The ruling followed a defamation suit filed by Ugadu after a series of allegations were made against him by Nwoba on Facebook.
The dispute between the two dates back to 2024 when Nwoba, known for his criticism of government policies, was arrested over alleged defamation and other related claims reportedly initiated by a commissioner in Ebonyi State.
At the time, several lawyers reportedly declined to handle the matter, but Barr. Ugadu eventually took up the case and represented Nwoba in court, securing his bail.
However, months after his release, Nwoba allegedly took to social media where he made several posts against Ugadu, calling him unprintable names and daring him to institute legal action.
Sources familiar with the matter said the disagreement began after Ugadu demanded payment for the professional legal services he rendered in securing Nwoba’s release. The request was reportedly declined, leading to a public dispute between the two.
Following the online publications, Ugadu filed a lawsuit alleging defamation and character assassination.
Delivering judgment, the court held that Nwoba failed to prove that the claims made in his publications were true or justifiable.
The court consequently ordered him to pay ₦5 million as damages, retract the defamatory statements, and issue an unreserved apology to Barr. Ugadu.
Nwoba retains the right to appeal the judgment if he is dissatisfied with the ruling.
As of the time of filing this report, it is unclear whether he will comply with the court’s order or proceed to the Court of Appeal.