The letter dated June 9, 2026, and signed by his Legal Counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co (Madiba Chambers), explains that the demand stems from statements made by Okonkwo on June 8, 2026, during an appearance on Channels Television’s programme, “Sunrise Daily”, which was subsequently reported by multiple media platforms under headings such as “Kenneth Okonkwo Criticises Peter Obi, Condemns NDC Primaries”,
According to the letter, the broadcast contained allegations that Obi’s legal team describes as completely fabricated and damaging.
The legal document states that Okonkwo stated in substance and effect, “(a) that our Client, Mr. Peter Obi, together with the leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East, informed the party’s aspirants that any person seeking to contest as a member of the House of Representatives must, after paying the prescribed expression of interest fee, pay a bribe of Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000.00) to the NDC and to the Caucus leaders;”
The document further outlines additional claims made by Okonkwo during the broadcast, noting his assertions, “(b) that the said unlawful demand was accompanied by documentary proof; the person who relayed the information to you having sent the said information together with the receipt evidencing the payment;
(c) that our Client personally wrote and compiled the list of the party’s candidates from his hotel room at the Johnwood Hotel;
(d) that you warned the said aspirants that our Client is going to scam them;
(e) that our Client travels abroad to collect money from people; and
(f) that our Client and the leaders of the NDC in the South-East are perpetuating criminality.”
Obi’s legal team to this end, emphasized that the remarks directly target their client’s character, integrity, and public standing.
“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. These are extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality directed at the character, integrity, reputation and public standing of our Client.”
The letter goes on to describe the public nature of the statements as particularly troubling due to their rapid amplification across digital channels.
“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 a political leader. It is particularly disturbing that the said statements were made by you on live television and were thereafter republished, broadcast and widely circulated through online and social media platforms, including video-sharing platforms, where such falsehoods spread rapidly and assume a life of their own. Your words were not mere political commentary. They crossed the permissible bounds of fair comment and constituted a direct assault on our Client’s person, integrity, image and reputation.”
The document noted that the right to freedom of expression does not permit the reckless destruction of another person’s reputation,
The firm therefore demanded Okonkwo to immediately withdraw the defamatory statements in their entirety and publish a clear, unequivocal, and unreserved public apology to Peter Obi.
This withdrawal and apology, according to Obi’s Counsel, must be given equal prominence to the original broadcast and shared across all his social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
In addition, the firm demanded a written undertaking that he will cease making or publishing further defamatory statements against their client, alongside a financial compensation package.
It further made it clear that failure, refusal, or neglect to comply with the terms within the stipulated seven-day window will force the former governor to seek full legal redress in court.
Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has issued a letter of demand to Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo following comments he made during a live television broadcast.
The letter dated June 9, 2026, and signed by his Legal Counsel, Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co (Madiba Chambers), explains that the demand stems from statements made by Okonkwo on June 8, 2026, during an appearance on Channels Television’s programme, “Sunrise Daily”, which was subsequently reported by multiple media platforms under headings such as “Kenneth Okonkwo Criticises Peter Obi, Condemns NDC Primaries”,
According to the letter, the broadcast contained allegations that Obi’s legal team describes as completely fabricated and damaging.
The legal document states that Okonkwo stated in substance and effect, “(a) that our Client, Mr. Peter Obi, together with the leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East, informed the party’s aspirants that any person seeking to contest as a member of the House of Representatives must, after paying the prescribed expression of interest fee, pay a bribe of Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000.00) to the NDC and to the Caucus leaders;”
The document further outlines additional claims made by Okonkwo during the broadcast, noting his assertions, “(b) that the said unlawful demand was accompanied by documentary proof; the person who relayed the information to you having sent the said information together with the receipt evidencing the payment;
(c) that our Client personally wrote and compiled the list of the party’s candidates from his hotel room at the Johnwood Hotel;
(d) that you warned the said aspirants that our Client is going to scam them;
(e) that our Client travels abroad to collect money from people; and
(f) that our Client and the leaders of the NDC in the South-East are perpetuating criminality.”
Obi’s legal team to this end, emphasized that the remarks directly target their client’s character, integrity, and public standing.
“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. These are extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality directed at the character, integrity, reputation and public standing of our Client.”
The letter goes on to describe the public nature of the statements as particularly troubling due to their rapid amplification across digital channels.
“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 a political leader. It is particularly disturbing that the said statements were made by you on live television and were thereafter republished, broadcast and widely circulated through online and social media platforms, including video-sharing platforms, where such falsehoods spread rapidly and assume a life of their own. Your words were not mere political commentary. They crossed the permissible bounds of fair comment and constituted a direct assault on our Client’s person, integrity, image and reputation.”
The document noted that the right to freedom of expression does not permit the reckless destruction of another person’s reputation,
The firm therefore demanded Okonkwo to immediately withdraw the defamatory statements in their entirety and publish a clear, unequivocal, and unreserved public apology to Peter Obi.
This withdrawal and apology, according to Obi’s Counsel, must be given equal prominence to the original broadcast and shared across all his social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
In addition, the firm demanded a written undertaking that he will cease making or publishing further defamatory statements against their client, alongside a financial compensation package.
It further made it clear that failure, refusal, or neglect to comply with the terms within the stipulated seven-day window will force the former governor to seek full legal redress in court.
