Court orders substituted service on Enugu Surveyor over libel case

The Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice N.R Oji has directed that the Managing Director of Geo. Squaremete Innovative limited, Prof Victor Nnam be issued a substituted service in a case of libel between him and a former leader of Enugu State House of Assembly, Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeagu.

Ezeugwu had dragged Nnam to court demanding one billion in damages over an alleged libelous publication which he claims tarnished his reputation and crippled an international business deal.

Apparently on evading service, the court ordered for substituted service on him for progression on the matter.

Pursuant to Order 7 Rule 5 of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2020, Ezeugwu prayed for an order of Motion Experts for the substituted service which the court granted him.

Justice Oji in grating the order said, "That the originating processes and all other court processes in suit be served on the Defendant by substituted means ie. by pasting same on the front gate of his addresses at office of MD, Geo. Squaremete Innovative Ltd. WTC Estate, Ogui New Layout, Enugu or by sending copies to the whatsapp page of his phone number."

The order stated that the service effected in the manner as directed shall be deemed proper, while the case was adjourned to October 13, 2025.

Ezeugwu in his statement of claim, alleged that Nnam published false, foul and injurious statements about him on May 19, 2025, through an online media and other platforms, in reaction to his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The former lawmaker, a businessman and philanthropist, stated that the defendant was not an official of the PDP and had no authority to comment on his political decision. 

According to him, Nnam’s publication—widely circulated across online media and WhatsApp groups—portrayed him as a sycophant, an unserious person, and a fake personality who should not be trusted.

The suit alleges that the comments questioned his legislative record, accused him of arrogance, political treachery, and benefiting unduly from the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, including the alleged allocation of prime landed property.

Ezeugwu insists the allegations are false and malicious, and that Nnam knew about his ongoing multi-million-naira raw cashew nut processing factory in Udenu LGA, which had attracted serious interest from German investors. 

He claims the defamatory remarks prompted the investors to suspend their planned trip to Nigeria, causing him huge financial and reputational losses.

 Ezeugwu said that the damage to his image was so severe that political associates in his new party began to question his credibility. Efforts by mutual acquaintances to get Nnam to retract the statement and apologise reportedly failed.

Consequently, Ezeugwu is asking the court to declare the publication libelous, restrain the defendant from further making derogatory statements against him, and order an unconditional public apology in national print media.

He is also seeking five million as special damages for legal costs, one billion as punitive damages for loss of business opportunities, and 10 percent monthly interest on any judgment sum until fully paid.