Former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, has filed a ₦5 billion defamation suit against lawyer, politician and Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo over comments allegedly made during an interview on Channels Television.
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The action was instituted before the High Court of Imo State in the Owerri Judicial Division through Udenwa’s legal team, Chief Soronnadi Njoku, SAN & Co.
The writ of summons, dated July 24, 2026, was reportedly served on Okonkwo at Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State.
The suit represents an escalation of the dispute after Udenwa’s lawyers issued Okonkwo a pre-action letter on June 11, demanding a retraction, public apology and ₦5 billion compensation over the same publication.
According to the statement of claim, the disputed comments were made on June 8, 2026, during an edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.
Okonkwo was quoted as saying: “That is why the NDC has 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 South East caucus were busy extorting the South East aspirants.”
The interview was subsequently uploaded to Channels Television’s YouTube platform under the title, “Kenneth Okonkwo Criticises Peter Obi, Condemns NDC Primaries,” and allegedly amplified through Okonkwo’s verified X account, Facebook and other online platforms.
Udenwa contended that the statement portrayed him as dishonest and as having participated in the alleged extortion of South-East aspirants seeking nominations under the Nigerian Democratic Congress.
The former governor described the allegation as false, malicious, baseless and damaging to his personal, professional and political reputation.
Udenwa, a chartered accountant who served as Governor of Imo State between 1999 and 2007 and later as Minister of Commerce and Industry, pleaded that he had maintained a reputation for integrity throughout his professional and public-service career.
He said he was currently a member of the NDC but held no executive position in the party and played no role in the process through which candidates were nominated for the 2027 general elections.
The former governor denied ever extorting any aspirant or participating in any arrangement to demand money from persons seeking elective positions in the party.
He further stated that he had never met with Onyema Ugochukwu or Peter Obi for the purpose of extorting South-East aspirants.
Udenwa also pleaded that he had never been accused, investigated or charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission or any other investigative agency for fraud, dishonesty or financial impropriety.
According to the court documents, the alleged publication exposed him to ridicule and distrust and caused serious injury to his reputation, character, integrity and political standing.
He said he received numerous telephone calls from political associates, professional colleagues, family members and other persons seeking explanations after the interview was broadcast and circulated online.
Udenwa is asking the court to declare that the statements allegedly made by Okonkwo and subsequently published on television and social media were false, malicious, baseless and defamatory.
He is also seeking ₦5 billion in general damages for the alleged injury caused to his reputation, character, integrity and political standing.
The former governor wants the court to direct Okonkwo to publish a full and unequivocal retraction and apology on Channels Television and its YouTube channel.
He is further asking that the retraction and apology be published on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, as well as in three national daily newspapers, within 30 days of the court’s judgment.
Udenwa is also seeking an order directing Okonkwo to delete and permanently remove all posts, videos and publications containing or repeating the disputed allegation.
He asked the court for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, associates or persons acting on his behalf from publishing or repeating the same or similar allegations against him.
The former governor additionally claimed ₦25 million as the cost of engaging counsel to prosecute the action, alongside the general costs of the suit.
The writ reportedly gives Okonkwo 42 days from the date of service to enter an appearance, failing which the court may proceed in his absence as permitted by law.
Okonkwo had previously rejected a separate demand for retraction arising from the same television interview and maintained that his comments were based on complaints concerning the NDC nomination process. That response related principally to Peter Obi’s complaint and does not constitute a defence to Udenwa’s present action.
The allegations and claims contained in Udenwa’s suit have not been determined by the court, and Okonkwo had not filed a publicly available statement of defence in the action at the time of publication.
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