Obi threatens Kenneth Okonkwo with ₦5bn lawsuit over bribery allegations

Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has threatened to sue actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo over statements made on a live television programme, demanding a public apology and ₦5 billion in damages.

A letter dated 9th June, 2026, signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) of Madiba Chambers and addressed to Okonkwo, accused him of making false and defamatory statements during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” on 8th June, 2026 — statements that were subsequently republished by Daily Post Nigeria, Pointblank News, Igbere TV, and circulated on social media platforms including YouTube.

According to the letter, Okonkwo alleged that Obi, together with NDC leaders in the South-East, directed party aspirants seeking House of Representatives tickets to pay a bribe of ₦10 million each to the party and its Caucus leaders, in addition to prescribed expression of interest fees. Okonkwo also reportedly alleged that Obi personally compiled candidates’ lists from his hotel room at the Johnwood Hotel, that Obi travels abroad to collect money from people, and that Obi and NDC South-East leaders are “perpetuating criminality.”

Obi’s lawyers described the allegations as “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact,” stating they were made with the intent to expose their client to “hatred, contempt and ridicule” and to damage his reputation as “a man of unquestionable integrity.”

The letter gave Okonkwo seven days to withdraw the statements, publish an unreserved public apology with equal prominence across all platforms where the original broadcast was amplified, and pay ₦5 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages. He is also required to furnish a written undertaking to desist from making further defamatory statements about Obi.

The lawyers warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would leave their client with no option but to seek legal redress, including injunctive reliefs and recovery of the full cost of proceedings.