Former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has demanded N5 billion in damages from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
Obi, through his lawyers, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co., accused Okonkwo of making false allegations capable of damaging his reputation and public image.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, and addressed to Okonkwo, Obi’s legal team demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statements, a public apology and a written undertaking against further publications.
The legal demand letter followed comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026.
According to the solicitors, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants after they had paid the party’s official expression of interest fees.
They also accused him of alleging that Obi personally compiled the party’s list of candidates from a hotel room, warned aspirants that Obi would “scam” them, travelled abroad to collect money from people, and was involved in criminal activities alongside some party leaders.
The law firm described the statements as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
The letter which SaharaReporters obtained on Tuesday was titled: “Demand for immediate withdrawal of false, malicious and defamatory publications against Mr. Peter Obi, public apology and undertaking.”
It partly read, “The above statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, and by necessary implication, falsely and maliciously represent our client as a person who demands, solicits, organises and collects bribes; who extorts, defrauds and swindles political aspirants of their money; who is a fraudster, a scammer and a dishonest political actor.”
The solicitors argued that the statements were capable of portraying Obi as a corrupt and dishonest public figure and exposing him to public ridicule.
They maintained that while individuals have a constitutional right to freedom of expression, such rights do not extend to making false allegations of criminal conduct against others.
“The right to freedom of expression does not extend to the reckless destruction of another person’s reputation,” the letter added.
Obi’s legal team demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements within seven days and publish an “unequivocal and unreserved” apology through the same channels where the comments were allegedly made and circulated.
The lawyers also requested that the apology be published on Channels Television and across Okonkwo’s social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
In addition, Obi is seeking N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged injury caused to his reputation.
It partly read: “Immediately withdraw the said false and defamatory statements in their entirety; publish a clear, unequivocal and unreserved public apology to our Client, Mr. Peter Obi;
“Publish the said withdrawal and apology, with equal prominence, through the same medium of the original broadcast and through all your social media handles and platforms, including but not limited to Channels Television, your X/Twitter handle, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and any other platform through which the defamatory statements were made, broadcast, reposted, circulated or amplified;
“Ensure that the apology is given the same or greater prominence, visibility and circulation as the original defamatory publication;
“Pay to our Client, through our Chambers, the sum of Five Billion Naira (N5,000,000,000.00) only, as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the grave injury occasioned to his hard-earned reputation, character and public standing by the said false, malicious and defamatory statements; and
“Deliver to us a written undertaking that you shall cease and desist from making, publishing, circulating or causing to be published any further false, malicious or defamatory statement concerning our client.”
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would result in legal action, including claims for damages, injunctive reliefs, public retractions and the cost of litigation.
The development marks the latest chapter in the political disagreement between Obi and Okonkwo, who was previously one of his prominent supporters before their relationship deteriorated over political differences.
In 2023, Obi contested the presidential election as the Labour Party’s candidate, with Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate. At the time, Okonkwo, now a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), was also in the Labour Party and served as spokesperson for the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Council.
