The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has issued a pre-action notice threatening legal action against Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), over what he described as defamatory statements made against him during a television interview.
In the letter signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Alex Ejesieme, Obi demanded a public apology and retraction from Okonkwo following comments made on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.
During the interview, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the South-East caucus of the NDC demanded bribes from aspirants seeking House of Representatives and Senate tickets.
He also referenced claims by Obunike Ohaegbu, an NDC House of Representatives aspirant, who allegedly said he was scammed of N10 million for a party ticket.
However, Ohaegbu later appeared on the same programme and denied ever accusing Obi of collecting any bribe, clarifying that he made the payment into the party’s account based on instructions from the party’s national secretary.
Obi, in his legal response, described Okonkwo’s comments as “extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality” against his person.
The letter further stated: “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 political leader.”
Obi also argued that the remarks were “false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact.”
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“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.”
He demanded a withdrawal of the statements, a public apology on Channels Television, X and other platforms, and payment of N5 billion as damages.
The letter warned that legal proceedings would be initiated if Okonkwo failed to comply within the stipulated timeframe.
In reaction, Okonkwo dismissed the threat in a post on X, writing:
“It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from Peter Obi, and his Lawyers that I should pay him N5b. Hahaha!”
“If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him. I did so when I was his Spokesperson paying for my flight tickets and booking for my hotel accommodation to some of our campaigns.”
He added: “I have not read the letter. Let me sound this note of warning, the Lawyers must take responsibility for any information I may have to divulge, which I acquired as a spokesperson, but which by my conscience I have not shared with anyone.”
“My principle is that I do not use any confidential information I share with anyone against the person except the person who becomes unintelligent enough to tow the line of foolishness. Anyone who decides to sue his former Spokesperson for defamation is indeed very unwise.”
“I will reply to the letter whenever I have the time to read it later in the day. Please send it here if you have it. It will be a shame to Peter Obi and his Lawyers if they do not take this case to court.”
“I don’t have time or patience for scammers. According to Obunike Ohaegbu, ‘I am Obunike Ohaegbu, aspirant for Nnewi North/Nnewi South Ekwusigo Federal Constituency and I am saying that I was scammed and the party blames PO.”