Obi Takes Okonkwo to Court Over N10m Bribery Allegation

Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has instituted legal action against his former loyalist and kinsman, Kenneth Okonkwo.

A suit filed through Obi’s lawyer, dated June 9, 2026, and signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co. (Madiba Chambers), described the allegations made by Okonkwo as fabricated and harmful to Obi’s reputation.
It would be recalled that Kenneth Okonkwo, the Nollywood actor-turned-lawyer and politician, had alleged that Peter Obi and others collected a N10 million bribe from aspirants seeking election into the House of Representatives.
However, Obi’s legal team has firmly denied the allegation, insisting that it is false.
According to the legal document, Okonkwo allegedly claimed that Peter Obi, together with leaders of the NDC in the South-East, informed party aspirants that anyone interested in contesting for the House of Representatives must, after paying the official expression of interest fee, also pay a N10 million bribe to the party and caucus leaders.
The document further listed other claims reportedly made by Okonkwo during the broadcast. These included allegations that the unlawful demand was supported by documentary evidence and payment receipts, that Peter Obi personally compiled the party’s candidate list from his room at Johnwood Hotel, that he warned aspirants they were being defrauded, that Obi travelled abroad to collect money from individuals, and that Obi and NDC leaders in the South-East were involved in criminal activities.
Rejecting the allegations, Obi’s legal team stated that the remarks were a direct attack on their client’s integrity, character, and public image.
The chambers argued that the statements falsely portrayed Obi as someone who solicits and receives bribes, extorts and defrauds political aspirants, engages in financial misconduct, and conspires with others in criminal acts.
According to the legal team, the allegations amount to serious, reckless, and damaging accusations of bribery, extortion, fraud, and criminality capable of undermining Obi’s reputation and standing in society.
The letter also expressed concern over the public nature of the allegations, noting that they had been widely circulated through television, online platforms, and social media channels.
The chambers maintained that the claims were false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory, and unsupported by evidence. It argued that the statements were intended to diminish Obi in the eyes of right-thinking members of society, expose him to ridicule, and damage his reputation as a political leader and statesman.
The legal team further pointed out that the comments were made during a live television programme and were subsequently republished and shared extensively across digital and social media platforms, enabling their rapid spread.
According to the letter, the statements exceeded the limits of fair political criticism and constituted a direct assault on Obi’s integrity, image, and reputation.
The law firm added that while freedom of expression is a constitutional right, it does not include the liberty to recklessly destroy another person’s reputation.
Among the demands made, Obi’s legal team called on Okonkwo to immediately retract the alleged defamatory statements and issue a clear, unconditional, and unreserved public apology.
The apology and retraction, the letter stated, must be given the same prominence as the original broadcast and published across all of Okonkwo’s social media platforms, including X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
The legal team also demanded a written undertaking from Okonkwo that he would refrain from making further defamatory statements against Obi, in addition to paying financial compensation.
The legal action comes days after Okonkwo intensified his criticism of Peter Obi following his departure from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Okonkwo has also publicly declared support for the presidential ambition of Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the ADC’s flagbearer ahead of the 2027 general elections.