Billboard Battle:  Why Court Ordered Imo Lawmaker, Obinna Egu to Pay CONA ₦8.8m

Prof. Chinedu Asinu-Anosike (CONA) and Cona Creative Concepts Limited have secured a major victory against Hon. Obinna Egu, member representing Ngor Okpala State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, as the High Court of Imo State awards them ₦8.8 million over the unauthorized use of their advertising billboard.

The High Court of Imo State, Owerri Judicial Division, ruled against Hon. Obinna Egu, over the unauthorized use of an advertising billboard belonging to Cona Creative Concepts Limited and Prof. Chinedu Asinu-Anosike (CONA).

The court, in its judgment delivered on June 23, 2026, awarded a total of ₦8.8 million in favour of the plaintiffs over the use of their outdoor advertising billboard along the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport Road, Owerri, for political campaign posters during the 2023 election season.

The dispute arose from Suit No. HOW/901/2023, instituted by Cona Creative Concepts Limited and Prof. Chinedu Asinu-Anosike against Egu.

The plaintiffs told the court that their billboard was a commercial advertising property and alleged that the lawmaker’s 2023 campaign materials were placed on it without their authorization or payment.

They sought, among other reliefs, a declaration that the use of the billboard amounted to unlawful interference, payment of ₦700,000 per month for the period of unauthorized use, a perpetual injunction against further interference, and ₦100 million in damages.

The plaintiffs were represented by Ndukwe Nnawuchi (SAN) & Co.

In its judgment, the court rejected the defendant’s attempt to rely on explanations concerning an APC unity campaign and other political posters on the billboard, holding that the defence had not been properly pleaded and therefore could not successfully answer the plaintiffs’ case.

The court subsequently found that the use of the billboard was unauthorized.

With no evidence before it establishing the exact date on which the campaign posters were removed, the court adopted March 18, 2023, the date of the State House of Assembly election, as the terminal date for the unauthorized use.

Based on the claimed monthly value of ₦700,000, the court calculated the period of use from November 2022 to March 2023 — a total of five months — and awarded ₦3.5 million for the use of the billboard.

The court further awarded ₦5 million in damages and ₦300,000 as costs, bringing the total monetary award against the defendant to ₦8.8 million.

The judgment effectively settles the billboard dispute through a judicial determination that the political campaign materials were placed on the plaintiffs’ advertising property without lawful authorization.

The ruling also underscores the legal consequences that may arise when commercial advertising infrastructure is used for political purposes without the consent of its owners or operators.