An Anambra State High Court in Onitsha has granted Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), permission to serve court summons on his former spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, through substituted means in an N8 billion defamation lawsuit. The order was issued on Tuesday, 30 June, by Justice D.A. Onyefulu, according to court documents seen by PREMIUM TIMES.
Court Order Follows Failed Service Attempts
The ruling came after an ex parte application filed by Obi through his lawyer, Chisom Ibemesi, citing unsuccessful attempts to personally serve Okonkwo. The court authorized Obi to serve the writ of summons and subsequent documents by posting them at Okonkwo's last known residential address: NPR 48 Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State, near Ijeoma Fishing Company, or by handing them to any adult at that residence.
Justice Onyefulu further directed that "service to be photographed and placed in the court's file to demonstrate due compliance with the court's orders." The service must be completed within seven days.
Background: From Allies to Adversaries
Obi and Okonkwo were once political allies. Okonkwo served as Obi's spokesperson when both were members of the Labour Party (LP), with Obi as the party's 2023 presidential candidate. Both later moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 elections, but Obi subsequently left ADC for the NDC, where he emerged as the party's 2027 presidential candidate. Okonkwo, who became a member of ADC's National Working Committee, has since turned into a vocal critic of Obi.
Defamatory Allegations
During a Channels TV programme reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the NDC South-east caucus demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants in the party to secure tickets. He specifically claimed that Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant for Nnewi North-South and Ekwusigo Constituency in Anambra, sent him a message and receipt alleging that Obi scammed him of N10 million. Okonkwo further claimed that after paying the bribe, Ohaegbu and other aspirants were told to participate in primaries instead of receiving tickets, and that Obi, staying at Johnwood Hotel in Abuja, unilaterally compiled the party's candidate list.
Okonkwo stated that anyone voting for the NDC and Obi was voting for criminality, alleging the party had been criminally extorting aspirants.
Denial and Counterclaims
Ohaegbu has denied making such statements to Okonkwo. Appearing on Channels TV's Sunrise Daily on 9 June, he said: "I am telling you that Peter Obi never told me to pay N10 million. I never told Kenneth Okonkwo that Peter Obi, in any way, told me to pay N10 million." He also denied accusing the NDC South-east caucus of bribery or claiming that Obi compiled a candidate list at Johnwood Hotel.
In a subsequent interview, Ohaegbu stressed that both he and Obi were "victims" of Okonkwo's allegations.
Legal Action and Escalation
Obi initially issued a pre-action notice demanding that Okonkwo withdraw the allegations, pay N5 billion in compensation, and issue a public apology within seven days. Okonkwo, through his lawyer V.I. Uma, responded on 16 June, stating he stood by his words and would not retract them, attributing his comments to Ohaegbu's alleged statements.
Following Okonkwo's refusal, Obi filed an N8 billion lawsuit on 25 June, seeking damages and an order compelling Okonkwo to withdraw and delete the defamatory remarks from his social media platforms.
