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A former Abia State Commissioner for Information, Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside an ex-parte order issued against him in a N500 million privacy suit filed by lawyer Ken Ahia, SAN.
In sworn court papers filed on December 29, 2025, Okiyi urged the court to discharge the order granted on December 3, 2025, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the matter involves issues of public expenditure which, he said, are open to public scrutiny under the law.
The suit was filed by Ahia, head of Ken Ahia & Associates, who is seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights.
He had earlier written to Okiyi on October 26, 2025, demanding a retraction, public apology and damages over the publication of documents he described as private.
Following Okiyi’s refusal to meet those demands, Ahia approached the Federal High Court in Lagos and obtained an interim order restraining further public comments on the matter.
In his response before the court, Okiyi stated that the documents in dispute were sourced from publicly available materials and relate to payments made by a state government.
He argued that documents connected to public funds cannot be treated as purely private, citing existing procurement and transparency laws.
Okiyi asked the court to consider the interest of justice, the right of citizens to question public spending, and the need for openness in democratic governance when deciding the case.
The court has adjourned the matter to a later date for further hearing.
Abia: Ex-information commissioner asks court to vacate N500m privacy order
