Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has filed a lawsuit against his former ally and kinsman, Kenneth Okonkwo, over allegations of bribery and corruption.
The suit, dated June 9, 2026, and signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co. (Madiba Chambers), described Okonkwo’s comments as false, malicious, and damaging to Obi’s reputation.
Okonkwo, a Nollywood actor-turned-lawyer and politician, had alleged during a television interview that Obi and some NDC leaders in the South-East received a ₦10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants after they paid official nomination fees.
Obi’s legal team firmly rejected the allegations, insisting they were entirely fabricated and intended to tarnish his public image.
According to the court filing, Okonkwo allegedly made several claims, including that Obi and NDC South-East leaders demanded ₦10 million from aspirants after payment of expression of interest fees, and that documentary evidence and receipts supported the allegation.
He was also said to have claimed that Obi personally compiled party candidate lists from a hotel room at Johnwood Hotel, warned aspirants that he would “scam” them, travelled abroad to collect money from individuals, and was involved in various criminal activities.
The legal team argued that the statements portrayed Obi as being involved in bribery, extortion, fraud, and criminal conspiracy, describing them as “grave, damaging and reckless imputations” against his integrity.
They further noted that the remarks, made on live television and widely circulated across social media platforms, had significantly amplified the alleged defamation.
Obi’s lawyers maintained that while freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed, it does not extend to making false allegations of criminal conduct against individuals.
They demanded that Okonkwo immediately retract the statements and issue an unreserved public apology across all platforms where the comments were made, including Channels Television, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The legal notice also requires a written undertaking to cease further defamatory publications, alongside a demand for ₦5 billion in compensation for alleged reputational damage.
It warned that failure to comply within seven days would result in further legal action seeking damages, injunctions, retractions, and recovery of litigation costs.
The dispute marks a further deterioration in the relationship between both men, who previously worked together during Obi’s 2023 presidential campaign under the Labour Party before later parting ways due to political differences.
