Defamation: Peter Obi Threatens Kenneth Okonkwo with ₦5bn Lawsuit Over Bribery Claims

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to his former spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, demanding a public apology and ₦5 billion in damages over alleged defamatory comments.**

**ABUJA** — The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has threatened to slam a ₦5 billion defamation lawsuit against actor-turned-politician and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo.

The legal threat was contained in a pre-action letter dated June 9, 2026, issued on Obi’s behalf by his legal team led by Chief Alex Ejesieme, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The dispute stems from comments Okonkwo made during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Sunrise Daily* programme on Monday, June 8. During the broadcast, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the South-East caucus of the NDC demanded a ₦10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants to secure party tickets.

Okonkwo specifically claimed that an aspirant from Anambra State, Obunike Ohaegbu, sent him a receipt and a message alleging that he was scammed by the former governor. He further alleged that Obi personally compiled the party's list of candidates from a hotel room.

In the pre-action notice, Obi's legal team strongly refuted the claims, describing the allegations as "false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact."

The lawyers argued that the statements crossed the bounds of fair political commentary and falsely portrayed Obi as a bribe collector, fraudster, and a dishonest political actor engaged in criminal conspiracy, thereby causing grave injury to his public standing.

Consequently, Obi has demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements in their entirety within seven days and issue an unequivocal public apology. The legal team stressed that the apology must receive equal or greater prominence than the original publication, including broadcasts on Channels TV and across social media platforms.

In addition to the apology, the former Anambra State governor is seeking ₦5 billion as general, aggravated, and exemplary damages, alongside a written undertaking from Okonkwo promising to cease making further defamatory remarks.

The letter warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated seven-day period would leave Obi with no option but to institute formal legal proceedings.

Responding to the legal threat via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Kenneth Okonkwo dismissed the ultimatum, mocking the ₦5 billion demand.

"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 ₦5 billion. 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.

The former spokesperson also warned that legal action could force him to disclose sensitive information. "Anyone who decides to sue his former spokesperson for defamation is indeed very unwise," Okonkwo stated, adding that he would formally respond to the legal team after properly reviewing the letter.

To back his claims, Okonkwo uploaded a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat and a bank payment receipt on social media. However, the aspirant at the center of the bribery allegation, Obunike Ohaegbu, has reportedly denied making the specific claim that Obi personally scammed him, adding a fresh twist to the unfolding dispute.