Former Enugu Commissioner for Lands and Urban Development, Prof. Victor Nnam, has taken a no-holds-barred swipe at Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, branding the ex-lawmaker a ‘fading political actor desperate for attention’.
Reacting to online reports that a court has granted substituted service against him in a ₦1 billion libel case, Prof. Nnam dismissed the lawsuit as a cheap gimmick aimed at resuscitating Ezeugwu’s dead political career in Udenu local government.
“Since his political godfather left office, Ezeugwu has been grasping at straws. Using my name is the only way he can appear relevant in public discourse,” Nnam told DAILY GAZETTE in an exclusive interview on Saturday.
The legal tussle stems from Ezeugwu’s controversial resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during which he reportedly attacked former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in what many described as a graceless exit.
Prof. Nnam responded in defence of the former governor, sparking the libel suit now making headlines.
But Nnam is unfazed. He confirmed receipt of the court papers and revealed he has handed the matter over to his legal team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), adding that he has full confidence in the judiciary to see through the charade.
“This is not a legal case, it’s a poorly scripted PR stunt. Ezeugwu knows he can’t compete with my record, so he’s trying to drag me down to his level,” Nnam said.
He accused Ezeugwu of peddling court documents and propaganda through obscure blogs and social media in a bid to shape public sympathy, a move he described as the ‘last play of a drowning politician’.
“He’s publishing court updates like campaign posters, that tells you all you need to know about his motives.”
“Let this be a warning to the younger generation: not all men in agbada are worthy of emulation. Some are just polished hustlers in politics,” Nnam added.
Ezeugwu is seeking ₦1 billion in damages, a public apology and a media retraction, demands Prof. Nnam calls laughable and politically motivated.
