Former Labour Party presidential candidate and leading figure in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Peter Obi, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo to retract what he described as false and defamatory allegations made against him or face a ₦5 billion lawsuit.
The demand was contained in a letter dated June 9, 2026, written by Obi’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Alex Ejesieme, and addressed to Okonkwo following remarks he allegedly made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8.
According to the letter, Obi’s lawyers took exception to a series of statements allegedly made by Okonkwo and subsequently circulated by several media organisations and social media platforms, claiming that Obi and leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded monetary payments from aspirants seeking elective offices under the party’s platform.
The legal team accused Okonkwo of making “false, baseless, malicious, reckless and defamatory” allegations that portrayed Obi as a politician involved in bribery, extortion, fraud and other criminal activities.
The letter stated that Okonkwo had alleged that House of Representatives aspirants were required to pay ₦10 million to party leaders after purchasing nomination forms, and further claimed that Obi personally compiled candidates’ lists from a hotel room and warned aspirants that they were being deceived.
Obi’s lawyers also faulted allegations that he travelled abroad to collect money from individuals and that he, alongside South-East NDC leaders, was involved in 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; and who, in concert with others, is engaged in criminal conspiracy and is actively perpetuating criminality,” the letter read.
Describing the allegations as “extremely grave, damaging and reckless,” the legal team insisted that the claims were entirely unsupported by facts and designed to tarnish Obi’s reputation.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our Client states categorically that the said allegations are false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact. They were made with the clear intent and purpose of lowering our Client in the estimation of right-thinking members of society, exposing him to hatred, contempt and ridicule, and injuring his hard-earned reputation as a man of unquestionable integrity, a statesman and political leader,” the letter stated.
The lawyers argued that while citizens are entitled to freedom of expression and political commentary, such rights do not extend to publishing allegations that impute criminality and dishonesty without evidence.
“The right to freedom of expression does not extend to the reckless destruction of another person’s reputation,” Ejesieme said.
Consequently, Obi is demanding that Okonkwo immediately withdraw the statements, publish an “unequivocal and unreserved” apology, and ensure the apology receives the same or greater publicity as the original comments across television, social media and other platforms where the allegations were circulated.
The former Anambra State governor is also demanding ₦5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for what his lawyers described as the injury caused to his reputation, character and public standing.
In addition, Okonkwo is required to provide a written undertaking that he would cease making or publishing further defamatory statements against Obi.
The legal team warned that failure to comply within seven days would leave Obi with no option but to institute legal proceedings seeking damages, injunctive reliefs, public retractions and the full cost of litigation.
“Should you fail, refuse or neglect to comply with the above demands within the stipulated period, our Client shall be left with no option than to seek legal redress against you without further recourse to you,” the letter concluded.
