‘It’s Just A Joke’ – Okonkwo Speaks On Accusing Peter Obi Of Bribery, Defamation Suit

The spokesperson for Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential campaign under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said he has not received any court documents in the ₦8 billion defamation suit filed against him by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Okonkwo, who previously worked with Obi, stated this on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today while responding to questions on the legal dispute.

“I always hear whatever they are doing from social media because they are just presidential candidate social media uncouth followers. So, I heard it on social media, and I am sure whenever I receive it, I’d let you know,” he said.

The ADC chieftain was asked about reports that the court had granted Obi’s legal team permission to serve him through substituted means after alleged unsuccessful attempts to serve him personally.

Responding, Okonkwo questioned the basis of the application, saying such a request must be supported by proof that personal service had failed.

“That’s the whole falsehood about this because when you claim substituted service, you will have to go into an affidavit to say you have tried to serve the person personally and you did not get the person,” he said.

He said that although he had responded to a pre-action notice earlier sent to his phone, he had not received any originating court processes.

“All along the pre-action, they put it on social media before they served me on my phone. Even though I could have objected to the mode of service, I accepted it and replied. But from the court, I have not received anything,” the lawyer added.

‘I Stand By My Comments’

Okonkwo dismissed the suit as an attempt to silence him, insisting that he would not retract his earlier comments about Obi.

“There is no battle at all, and this is just a joke. I told people that this is a calculated attempt to gag me, intimidate me, and harass me. I have been a public affairs analyst since 2009. I stand by everything that I said,” he said.

Background

Naija News reports that the legal dispute stems from remarks made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he accused Obi and some leaders of the NDC of allegedly demanding ₦10 million from House of Representatives aspirants in exchange for party tickets during the party’s primaries.

Okonkwo claimed the allegations were based on information and documents he received from an aspirant, insisting he had evidence to support his claims.

Following the interview, Obi, through his lawyers, issued a pre-action notice demanding a retraction, public apology and damages, describing the allegations as false, malicious and defamatory.

Okonkwo, however, rejected the demands, maintaining that his comments amounted to fair comment on matters of public interest and insisting he would not retract them.

The controversy later deepened after the aspirant cited by Okonkwo, Obunike Ohaegbu, publicly denied accusing Obi of demanding ₦10 million or making several of the claims attributed to him.

Ohaegbu maintained that neither Obi nor the NDC South-East caucus demanded any bribe from him, a development that prompted Obi to file the ₦8 billion defamation suit seeking damages, a public retraction and a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from repeating the allegations.