An Enugu State High Court has granted a motion for substituted service to allow court documents to be served via WhatsApp and physical posting, in a libel suit involving Professor Victor Nnam, a former Enugu State Commissioner and Managing Director of Geo. Squaremete Innovative Ltd.
Presiding judge, Justice N.R. Oji, issued the directive following claims that Nnam had repeatedly evaded personal service of court processes filed by Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, a former leader of the Enugu State House of Assembly.
Ezeugwu is seeking ₦1 billion in damages, accusing Nnam of publishing defamatory and damaging statements that allegedly tarnished his reputation and disrupted a pending international business deal.
Invoking Order 7 Rule 5 of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2020, Ezeugwu filed a motion ex parte seeking permission for substituted service.
The court granted the request, directing that:
“The originating processes and all other court documents be served on the defendant either by affixing them to the gate of his office at Geo. Squaremete Innovative Ltd., WTC Estate, Ogui New Layout, Enugu, or by sending them to the WhatsApp account linked to his phone number.”
The judge ruled that such service, once carried out, would be deemed proper and valid. The case was subsequently adjourned to October 13, 2025.
Ezeugwu, also a businessman and philanthropist, claims that Nnam maliciously published false and damaging content on May 19, 2025, shortly after his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The statements were allegedly circulated via online platforms and WhatsApp groups, casting Ezeugwu as a “sycophant,” “unserious,” and a “fake personality.”
The suit further accuses Nnam of questioning Ezeugwu’s legislative performance, labeling him as arrogant and disloyal, and alleging that he unfairly benefited from the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, including through alleged land allocations.
Ezeugwu insists that the remarks are baseless and calculated to harm, especially given Nnam’s lack of any official capacity within the PDP.
He claims the publication caused major reputational and financial damage, including the suspension of a scheduled visit by German investors interested in his multi-million-naira raw cashew nut processing factory in Udenu LGA.
He added that the fallout from the article caused friction within his new political party, with members beginning to question his credibility.
Ezeugwu is asking the court to:
- Declare the publication libelous and defamatory.
- Restrain Nnam from making further defamatory statements.
- Compel a public apology in national print media.
- Award ₦1 billion in punitive damages for lost business opportunities.
- Award ₦5 million in special damages for legal expenses.
- Impose 10% monthly interest on any awarded judgment sum until full payment is made.
Despite attempts by mutual contacts to resolve the matter privately, Ezeugwu claims Nnam has refused to retract the statements or issue an apology.
The case continues on October 13.
