Alleged defamation: Peter Obi sues ex-spokesperson Kenneth Okonkwo for 8 billion Naira
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has filed an N8 billion defamation suit against his former spokesperson and African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, over allegations made during a television interview.
The lawsuit was filed on Thursday at the Onitsha Judicial Division of the Anambra State High Court.
The legal action follows comments made by Okonkwo during a Channels Television programme on June 8, in which he alleged that Obi collected N10 million each from House of Representatives aspirants and personally compiled the list of candidates for federal constituencies across the South-East.
Before filing the suit, Obi had, through a pre-action notice dated June 9, demanded that Okonkwo retract the allegations, issue a public apology, and pay N5 billion in damages. However, the ADC chieftain rejected the demands.
In a letter dated June 16 and signed by his lawyer, V. I. Uma, Okonkwo maintained that his claims were true. He said his statements were based on complaints from NDC House of Representatives aspirants who allegedly accused the party's South-East caucus, led by Obi, of extortion and fraud.
In the writ of summons dated June 25, Obi, through his counsel, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), described the allegations as false, malicious, baseless, and defamatory.
The suit, marked O/229/26, seeks:
N5 billion in general damages for alleged injury to Obi's reputation, integrity, political standing, and goodwill.
N2 billion in aggravated damages over what he described as the persistent and widespread publication of the allegations.
N1 billion in exemplary damages, arguing that Okonkwo deliberately repeated the claims even after receiving the pre-action notice.
Obi is also asking the court to compel Okonkwo to publish a full and unequivocal retraction and apology on Channels Television, its YouTube channel, social media platforms, and in three national newspapers.
In addition, the former Anambra State governor is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from making or publishing similar allegations in the future. He also wants the court to order the removal of all allegedly defamatory content from platforms under Okonkwo's control.
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