Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, Obi’s lawyers, led by Alex Ejesieme (SAN), accused Okonkwo of making false and malicious allegations against their client during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8.
According to the letter, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East demanded an additional N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants after they had paid the party’s prescribed expression-of-interest fees.
The legal team said Okonkwo also claimed there was documentary evidence of the payments, alleged that Obi personally compiled the party’s list of candidates from a hotel room, warned aspirants that Obi would “scam” them, and accused him of collecting money from people abroad and engaging in criminal activities.
The lawyers argued that the allegations portrayed Obi as someone involved in bribery, extortion, fraud and criminal conduct.
“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 letter stated.
Obi’s legal team described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
The lawyers demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements within seven days, publish an “unequivocal and unreserved” apology with similar or greater prominence than the original publication, pay N5 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, and provide a written undertaking not to make further defamatory statements against Obi.
They warned that failure to comply would result in legal action seeking damages, injunctive reliefs, public retraction and legal costs.
Responding in a post on X, Okonkwo dismissed the demand and said he had not yet reviewed the letter.
“It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his lawyers that I should pay him N5bn. Hahaha! If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him,” Okonkwo wrote.
He added that he would respond formally after reading the letter and challenged Obi to pursue the matter in court.
“It will be a shame to Peter Obi and his lawyers if they do not take this case to court. I don’t have time or patience for scammers,” he said.
Okonkwo further suggested that any legal proceedings could lead to the disclosure of information he obtained while serving as Obi’s spokesperson.
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