A political alliance that once appeared unbreakable has taken a dramatic turn as former allies, Peter Obi and Kenneth Okonkwo prepare for a major legal showdown over a N5 billion defamation suit.
An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha, has granted Obi permission to serve court documents on Okonkwo through substituted means after efforts to personally serve the former campaign spokesman failed.
Justice D.A. Onyefulu granted the order on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, following an ex parte application filed by Obi in suit No. O/229/2026.
The court approved that the writ of summons and other processes be pasted at Okonkwo’s last known residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, or delivered to any adult found at the address.
The service must be photographed and filed as evidence of compliance.
The legal battle stems from comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during a Channels Television interview, where he reportedly raised allegations concerning the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and its candidate selection process.
Obi’s lawyers accused Okonkwo of making statements they described as “false, reckless and malicious,” claiming the remarks portrayed the former Anambra State governor as dishonest and involved in wrongdoing.
The legal team demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statements, a public apology and an undertaking against future publications.
When these demands were not met, Obi proceeded with the N5 billion lawsuit.
But, Okonkwo has pushed back strongly, denying that he defamed Obi.
Read also:
- Defamation Suit Against Kenneth Okonkwo: South-East Forum Faults Peter Obi’s N5bn Legal Threat
- Peter Obi demands N5bn damages, public apology from Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamation
- Kenneth Okonkwo accuses Peter Obi of betrayal
The former spokesperson argued that he only repeated concerns brought to him by individuals who claimed they had grievances against the party’s process.
In a response through his lawyers, Okonkwo accused Obi’s legal action of being an attempt to intimidate him and stop him from speaking out.
The dispute has become one of the most notable political fallouts involving former allies, especially because Okonkwo was once a major voice in Obi’s presidential campaign and worked alongside him and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed during the 2023 election.
The case now moves into a new phase as both sides prepare to defend their positions in court, with the outcome likely to have political implications beyond the courtroom.
