Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory statements.
Obi’s lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), said Okonkwo made false and malicious claims during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8. The statements, they alleged, were subsequently published and circulated by several media organisations.
According to the letter, Okonkwo claimed that Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East demanded N10 million bribes from aspirants seeking to contest House of Representatives seats. He allegedly compiled the party’s list of candidates from a hotel room, warned aspirants he would “scam” them, and collected money from people abroad.
The legal team said the remarks portrayed Obi as “a person engaged in bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminal conduct,” adding that the statements were “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
Obi’s lawyers demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements, issue an unequivocal and unreserved apology, and pay N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages. They warned that failure to comply would leave Obi with no choice but to pursue legal action, including court claims, injunctions, and public retraction.
Responding on his X account, Okonkwo dismissed the demand.
“It has been brought to my notice… that I should pay him N5bn. Hahaha! If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me… not through extortion,” he said.
He added that he would respond formally after reading the letter and warned that any legal action could result in the disclosure of information he obtained while serving as Obi’s former spokesperson.
“Anyone who decides to sue his former spokesperson for defamation is indeed very unwise,” Okonkwo added.
