Peter Obi Threatens Court Action Against Kenneth Okonkwo Over Alleged Defamatory

A fresh rift has emerged between former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, and actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo after comments made during a live television interview triggered a legal dispute.

Obi's legal team has issued a formal demand letter to Okonkwo, accusing him of making false and defamatory allegations during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily programme.

The dispute stems from remarks allegedly made by Okonkwo on June 8, during which he reportedly accused Obi and some leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East of demanding money from political aspirants seeking elective positions within the party.

According to the letter signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Obi strongly denies the allegations and describes them as false, malicious and damaging to his reputation.

The legal team argued that the claims portrayed the former presidential candidate as someone involved in bribery, extortion, fraud and other forms of criminal conduct.

Among the statements challenged in the letter are allegations that aspirants seeking House of Representatives tickets were asked to pay additional sums beyond official party fees, claims that Obi personally compiled candidate lists, and assertions suggesting that he was involved in questionable financial dealings.

Obi's lawyers insist there is no evidence to support the allegations and maintain that the statements went beyond political criticism.

According to the legal team, the comments were made on a national television platform and were subsequently shared across various online platforms, increasing their reach and potential impact on Obi's public image.

The development is significant because both men were once political allies.

Okonkwo was among the prominent supporters of Obi during the 2023 presidential election campaign before disagreements later emerged over political strategy and the direction of opposition politics.

What began as political differences has now escalated into a legal confrontation that could potentially end up before the courts if both parties fail to resolve the matter.

In the letter, Obi's lawyers demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statements, a public apology, and a commitment to refrain from making similar allegations in the future.

The legal team also requested financial compensation over what it described as reputational damage caused by the remarks.

The apology, according to the demand, should receive the same level of publicity as the original statements and be published across multiple platforms, including social media channels.

The lawyers further warned that failure to comply within seven days could result in legal proceedings.

As of the time of filing this report, Kenneth Okonkwo had not publicly responded to the demands contained in the letter.