BREAKING: Peter Obi Sues Kenneth Okonkwo, Demands ₦8bn Damages

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has initiated an ₦8 billion defamation lawsuit against his former spokesperson and prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, over statements allegedly made during a televised interview.

According to Ireporter Online, the suit was filed on Thursday at the Onitsha Judicial Division of the Anambra State High Court after the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum previously issued to Okonkwo, demanding that he retract the alleged defamatory remarks, issue a public apology, and pay compensation.

The legal dispute arose from comments made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television on June 8, where he alleged that Obi collected ₦10 million each from House of Representatives aspirants and personally selected candidates for federal constituencies across the South-East.

Following the interview, Obi, through his counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), served a pre-action notice dated June 9, requesting a public retraction, an apology, and ₦5 billion in damages. However, Okonkwo, through his lawyer, V.I. Uma, responded on June 16, rejecting the demands and insisting on the accuracy of his claims.

Court documents indicate that the writ of summons, dated June 25, has been endorsed for service on Okonkwo in Enugu State.

In the suit, Obi described both the television interview and subsequent social media posts by Okonkwo as false, malicious, unfounded, and defamatory. He is asking the court to award ₦5 billion as general damages for the alleged harm to his reputation, political standing, integrity, and goodwill. He is also seeking ₦2 billion as aggravated damages, arguing that Okonkwo continued to circulate the allegations even after receiving the pre-action notice, and an additional ₦1 billion as exemplary damages over what he described as the deliberate amplification of the claims.

The former Anambra State governor is further requesting an order compelling Okonkwo to publish a full, unconditional, and unequivocal apology within seven days of judgment on Channels Television, the station’s YouTube platform, all his social media accounts, and in three national newspapers.

Obi is also asking the court to direct the defendant to remove all alleged defamatory publications from his social media platforms and any websites under his control. In addition, he is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo or anyone acting on his behalf from making or publishing similar allegations in the future, alongside the cost of the suit and a 10 percent annual post-judgment interest on any monetary award granted by the court.

Obi and Okonkwo were once political allies in the Labour Party, where the actor-turned-politician served as Obi’s spokesperson during the 2023 presidential campaign. According to reports, both later aligned with the ADC ahead of preparations for the 2027 elections before Obi eventually moved to the NDC, where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate. Since then, their relationship has deteriorated, with Okonkwo becoming one of Obi’s outspoken critics.

A key aspect of the dispute revolves around Okonkwo’s claim that House of Representatives aspirant Obunike Ohaegbu informed him that Obi demanded ₦10 million from aspirants and personally handpicked candidates. However, Ohaegbu has publicly denied making such allegations.

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 9, Ohaegbu stated that Peter Obi never requested ₦10 million from him and denied ever telling Kenneth Okonkwo that Obi made such a demand. He also dismissed claims that he accused the NDC South-East caucus of bribery or alleged that Obi compiled candidates’ names at a hotel in Abuja.