Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi has demanded ₦5 billion in damages from Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s lawyer, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Okonkwo of making “false, malicious and defamatory” claims against the former presidential candidate during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8.
According to the letter, Okonkwo allegedly claimed that Obi and leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded a ₦10 million payment from aspirants seeking House of Representatives tickets after paying the official expression of interest fee.
The letter also alleged that Okonkwo stated there was documentary evidence of the payment, including receipts.
The legal team further accused Okonkwo of alleging that Obi personally compiled the party’s list of candidates from a hotel room
He warned aspirants that Obi would scam them, adding that Obi travelled abroad to collect money from individuals.
However, Obi’s lawyers described the statements as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
“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; and who, in concert with others, is engaged in criminal conspiracy and is actively perpetuating criminality,” the letter stated.
The legal team said the allegations had damaged Obi’s reputation and public standing, arguing that the comments went beyond legitimate political criticism.
“Your words were not mere political commentary. They crossed the permissible bounds of fair comment and constituted a direct assault on our Client’s person, integrity, image and reputation,” the letter said.
Obi is demanding that Okonkwo withdraw the statements within seven days, issue a public apology, and publish the apology through the same platforms where the comments were circulated, including television and social media channels.
The former governor of Anambra State is also seeking ₦5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages and wants a written undertaking that no further defamatory statements will be made against him.
The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated period would leave Obi with “no option than to seek legal redress” and pursue legal action, including claims for damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction, apology and the cost of court proceedings.
