Alleged Defamation: Ex-Imo governor demands N5b, apology from Okonkwo

Former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, has demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from African Democratic Congress chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television programme.

The demand was contained in a three-page letter dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Udenwa’s lawyer, Chief Soronnadi Njoku (SAN).

In the letter sighted on Sunday, Udenwa accused Okonkwo of making false allegations that portrayed him as having unlawfully obtained money from political aspirants through coercion and violence.

According to the letter, the remarks were made during a live television broadcast and were subsequently circulated by various media organisations and online platforms.

“Most regrettably, your defamatory statement against him, accusing him of illegally securing money from aspirants by compulsion and violence, or wrongly and illegally obtaining money from those aspirants by compulsion or violence, which statement you made during a live television programme broadcast both nationally and internationally, and which statement was subsequently published by numerous media houses and several online platforms, has greatly injured our client in his credit and reputation and portrayed him as a common criminal who abuses his position for personal monetary gains,” the letter stated.

Okonkwo had, in an interview on Channels TV on June 8, 2026, allegedly linked the former governor to alleged extortion of aspirants seeking elective positions under Nigerian Democratic Party.

He said, “This is why the NDC released a statement that it is 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”.

He claimed that one of the aspirants, Obunike Ohaegbu, provided him with details of the alleged payments alongside a receipt.

However, Udenwa, through his counsel, demanded that Okonkwo publish a retraction and apology within seven days.

The former governor requested that the apology be published in five national newspapers and aired during prime-time programming on Channels Television.

“We do hereby, on his instructions, give you seven days from the date of this letter to write a strongly worded letter of apology to him, published in five national dailies, as well as aired, prime time, on Channels Television, wherein you clearly, in unmistakable terms, retract your said publication against him, and give an undertaking never to defame him ever again,” the letter added.

In addition to the apology, Udenwa demanded N5 billion as compensation for the alleged damage to his reputation.

“We also demand the payment of the sum of N5 billion as compensation to him to assuage the injuries your said false publication has occasioned to him,” the letter stated.

The former governor further warned that legal action would be initiated if the demands were not met within the stipulated period.

“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 N5 billion as damages against you, as well as the appropriate injunctive reliefs against you,” the letter added.

The NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi had also demanded N5 billion in damages and a public apology from the actor-turned-politician over the same alleged defamatory statements.

The former Anambra State governor also threatened legal action and indicated that he could seek higher damages if the demands are not met.

Responding in a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Okonkwo dismissed the demand.

He also shared alleged Whatsapp conversations between him and Ohaegbu, which he said support his claims about Obi’s involvement in the party’s primary process.

Okonkwo was Obi’s former spokesperson before they parted ways.