Actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo is facing fresh legal troubles after former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, demanded a public retraction, apology and ₦5 billion in damages over alleged defamatory remarks made during a live television interview.
The demand was contained in a letter dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Udenwa’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Soronnadi Njoku. The letter was made available to journalists on Saturday.
According to the legal team, Okonkwo, a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former spokesman for Peter Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign, made the controversial remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026.
Udenwa’s lawyers accused Okonkwo of falsely linking the former governor to an alleged extortion scheme involving political aspirants in the South-East.
The statement attributed to Okonkwo reads: “That is why the NDC has released a statement that it’s only the South-East caucus of the party that was involved in such problems. Onyema Ugochukwu, Achike Udenwa, Peter Obi and other leaders of the South-East caucus were busy extorting the South-East aspirants.”
Reacting to the allegation, Udenwa’s legal team argued that the statement portrayed the former governor as a criminal who abused his influence to unlawfully obtain money from political aspirants.
The lawyers insisted that the allegation was entirely false and malicious, stressing that Udenwa had never been accused, investigated or convicted of extortion, corruption or any related offence throughout his years in public service.
According to the letter, the comments have caused serious reputational damage to the former governor, who served two terms as governor of Imo State and later held office as a federal minister.
“Your publication has greatly lowered his image in the eyes of right-thinking members of the Nigerian society,” the letter stated.
The legal team further argued that the allegation was particularly damaging because it accused their client of criminal conduct and was broadcast live on national television before being widely circulated across multiple media platforms.
As part of the demands, Udenwa has given Okonkwo seven days to issue what his lawyers described as a strongly worded retraction and apology.
The proposed apology must be published in five national newspapers and aired during prime-time programming on Channels Television. The lawyers also demanded a written undertaking from Okonkwo that he would refrain from making any further defamatory statements against the former governor.
In addition, Udenwa is seeking ₦5 billion as compensation for the alleged injury to his reputation.
The legal team warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated timeframe would leave their client with no option but to seek redress in court.
“Take notice that if the above demands are not strictly met within the stipulated time frame, we have his instructions to commence legal proceedings against you in the appropriate High Court in Imo State to claim the said sum of N5bn as damages against you, as well as the appropriate injunctive reliefs against you,” the lawyers stated.
The latest development adds to Okonkwo’s growing legal challenges, coming shortly after presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, also threatened legal action over remarks allegedly made by the former spokesperson during the same television interview.
