Former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa, has issued a demand for ₦5 billion in damages and a public apology from actor-turned-politician and African Democratic Congress chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, over statements he considers defamatory.
The demand was outlined in a three-page legal letter dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Udenwa’s lawyer, Chief Soronnadi Njoku (SAN). In the letter, which was seen on Sunday, the former governor alleged that Okonkwo made false claims during a televised interview, suggesting that he unlawfully collected money from political aspirants through coercion and violence.
According to the legal notice, the remarks were aired during a live broadcast and later shared widely across multiple media outlets and online platforms, significantly damaging Udenwa’s reputation.
The letter stated:
“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, during an interview on Channels Television on June 8, 2026, allegedly linked Udenwa and other South-East political figures to alleged extortion of aspirants under the Nigerian Democratic Party.
He was quoted as saying:
“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 further alleged that an aspirant, Obunike Ohaegbu, provided him with evidence, including receipts, of payments made.
In response, Udenwa’s legal team demanded a full retraction and apology within seven days. They insisted the apology be published in five national newspapers and aired during prime-time programming on Channels Television.
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“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.
The former governor also sought ₦5 billion as compensation for reputational harm.
“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 legal notice warned that court action would follow if the demands were not met within the stipulated timeframe.
“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.
Meanwhile, it was reported that NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has also issued a similar ₦5 billion demand and public apology request over the same alleged remarks.
Okonkwo, in a response posted on his X handle, dismissed the claims and shared alleged WhatsApp conversations with Ohaegbu, insisting they support his allegations regarding Obi’s involvement in the party’s primary process.
He also noted his past political association with Obi, having previously served as his spokesperson before their split.