Court Grants Peter Obi Leave to Serve Kenneth Okonkwo by Substituted Service
An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha has granted the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), Peter Obi, leave to serve court processes on actor-turned-politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, through substituted means after efforts to personally serve him failed.
The order was made by Justice D.A. Onyefulu on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Suit No. O/229/2026, following an ex parte application filed by Obi.
According to the court order, Obi was permitted to serve the writ of summons, accompanying court processes and all subsequent documents by pasting them at Okonkwo's last known residential address at NPR 48 Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State, close to Ijeoma Fishing Company, or by delivering the documents to any adult found at the residence.
The court further directed that the substituted service must be photographed and the evidence placed in the court's file as proof of compliance with the order.
Justice Onyefulu also ordered that the substituted service be carried out within seven days.
The order followed an ex parte motion brought pursuant to Sections 6 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as relevant provisions of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
The application was supported by an affidavit of attempted service by the court bailiff, marked as Exhibit A, and a written address filed on June 26, 2026.
Court records show that Chisom Ibemesi appeared as counsel for Obi during the proceedings.
Obi had in June filed a suit demanding N5 billion in damages from Okonkwo, his former ally, over alleged defamatory statements made during a television interview.
The former Anambra State governor, through his lawyers, Chief Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co., accused Okonkwo of making false allegations capable of damaging his reputation and public image.
In a letter dated June 9, 2026, and addressed to Okonkwo, Obi's legal team demanded an immediate withdrawal of the statements, a public apology and a written undertaking against further publications.
The legal demand letter followed comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026.
According to the solicitors, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and leaders of the NDC in the South-East demanded N10 million from House of Representatives aspirants after they had paid the party's official expression of interest fees.
The lawyers further stated that Okonkwo claimed documentary evidence, including receipts, existed to support the allegation.
They also accused him of alleging that Obi personally compiled the party's list of candidates from a hotel room, warned aspirants that Obi would "scam" them, travelled abroad to collect money from people, and was involved in criminal activities alongside some party leaders.
The law firm described the statements as "false, baseless, malicious, reckless and wholly unsupported by any fact."
The solicitors argued that the statements were capable of portraying Obi as a corrupt and dishonest public figure and exposing him to public ridicule.
They maintained that while individuals have a constitutional right to freedom of expression, such rights do not extend to making false allegations of criminal conduct against others.
Obi's legal team demanded that Okonkwo withdraw the statements within seven days and publish an "unequivocal and unreserved" apology through the same channels where the comments were allegedly made and circulated.
The lawyers also requested that the apology be published on Channels Television and across Okonkwo's social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
In addition, Obi is seeking N5 billion as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the alleged injury caused to his reputation.
However, in response, Okonkwo in a lengthy reply dated June 16, 2026 and issued through Supreme God Chambers, rejected allegations that he defamed Obi, insisting that his comments were based on information supplied by aggrieved aspirants who accused the NDC and Obi of orchestrating a fraudulent primary process.
The letter, signed by V.I. Uma Esq, described Obi’s legal action as “calculated to distract and cow” Okonkwo from carrying out what it called his lawful duty to expose wrongdoing.
Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for Obi and his running mate Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed during the 2023 presidential election, also accused the former Anambra governor of violating his privacy by allegedly publishing his personal phone number in the defamation letter circulated online.
The lawyer alleged that Obi’s supporters had used the information to “track and target him for physical and psychological abuse, assault and eventually murder him.”
Responding to claims that his television appearance defamed Obi, Okonkwo maintained that he merely conveyed allegations brought to him by one Obunike Ohaegbu, also known as Nwa Miss, who allegedly sought his assistance in recovering N10 million paid to the NDC.