Former Governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, through his legal counsel has issued a letter of demand to Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo following comments made during a live television broadcast.
The letter is dated June 9, 2026, and signed by Chief Alex Ejesieme, SAN, of Alex Ejesieme (SAN) & Co (Madiba Chambers).
According to the content of the letter, the demand stems from statements made by Okonkwo on June 8, 2026, during an appearance on Channels Television’s program, “Sunrise Daily”. The broadcast, which was subsequently reported by multiple media platforms under headings such as “Kenneth Okonkwo Criticises Peter Obi, Condemns NDC Primaries”, contained allegations that Obi’s legal team describes as completely fabricated and damaging.
According to the legal document, Okonkwo stated in substance and effect:
“(a) that our Client, Mr. Peter Obi, together with the leaders of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the South-East, informed the party’s aspirants that any person seeking to contest as a member of the House of Representatives must, after paying the prescribed expression of interest fee, pay a bribe of Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000.00) to the NDC and to the Caucus leaders;”
The document further outlines additional claims made by Okonkwo during the broadcast, noting his assertions:
“(b) that the said unlawful demand was accompanied by documentary proof; the person who relayed the information to you having sent the said information together with the receipt evidencing the payment;
(c) that our Client personally wrote and compiled the list of the party’s candidates from his hotel room at the Johnwood Hotel;
(d) that you warned the said aspirants that our Client is going to scam them;
(e) that our Client travels abroad to collect money from people; and
(f) that our Client and the leaders of the NDC in the South-East are perpetuating criminality.”
Rejecting the assertions, Obi’s legal team emphasized that the remarks directly target their client’s character, integrity, and public standing.
The chambers stated:
“The above statements, in their natural and ordinary meaning, and by necessary implication, falsely and maliciously represent our Client as a person who demands, solicits, organises and collects bribes; who extorts, defrauds and swindles political aspirants of their money; who is a fraudster, a scammer and a dishonest political actor; and who, in concert with others, is engaged in criminal conspiracy and is actively perpetuating criminality. These are extremely grave, damaging and reckless imputations of bribery, extortion, fraud, financial dishonesty and criminality directed at the character, integrity, reputation and public standing of our Client.”
The letter goes on to describe the public nature of the statements as particularly troubling due to their rapid amplification across digital channels.
“For the avoidance of doubt, our Client states categorically that the said allegations are false, baseless, malicious, reckless, defamatory and wholly unsupported by any fact. 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 a political leader.
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. They crossed the permissible bounds of fair comment and constituted a direct assault on our Client’s person, integrity, image and reputation.”
The law firm said that the right to freedom of expression does not permit the reckless destruction of another person’s reputation,
The firm’s listed demands require Okonkwo to immediately withdraw the defamatory statements in their entirety and publish a clear, unequivocal, and unreserved public apology to Peter Obi.
This withdrawal and apology must be given equal prominence to the original broadcast and shared across all his social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Additionally, the legal team demanded a written undertaking that he will cease making or publishing further defamatory statements against their client, alongside a financial compensation package.
The firm said that failure, refusal, or neglect to comply with the terms within the stipulated seven-day window will force the former governor to seek full legal redress in court.
A funeral ceremony in Aleto, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, reportedly turned tragic on Friday after a pastor collapsed and died while delivering a sermon on the certainty of death.
The cleric was identified as Deacon Steve Eyo, the Resident Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Aleto.
He was preaching before more than 300 mourners when he suddenly collapsed as he was concluding his message.
Eyo’s sermon was titled “The Certainty of Death and Hope Beyond.” According to eyewitness accounts cited by multiple local news outlets, he began preaching at about 1:10 p.m., speaking about the inevitability of death and urging those present to live their lives with the awareness that nobody knows when death will come.
In illustrating his message, the pastor reportedly compared life to going to the market, explaining that some people leave early while others remain until later, just as some people die young while others live longer.
About 15 minutes into the sermon, at approximately 1:25 p.m., Eyo reportedly collapsed while rounding off his message.
His sudden fall initially confused some mourners, with eyewitnesses saying some thought the pastor was demonstrating the suddenness of death as part of his sermon. The situation quickly became clear, however, as church ministers, choir members and others rushed to his aid.
People at the scene reportedly prayed for him while individuals with medical knowledge attempted to administer first aid. He was subsequently taken to a nearby medical facility in the same ambulance that had been hired to convey the remains of the deceased person whose burial was taking place.
He was reportedly confirmed dead at the hospital, after which his remains were taken to a mortuary.
The circumstances surrounding Eyo’s death have not been publicly established in the reports reviewed, and no specific medical cause of death was disclosed.
However, the timing of the incident has left mourners and members of the Aleto community deeply shocked because of the subject of his final sermon.
According to eyewitness accounts, Eyo had urged the congregation to “number your days and prepare, for it can happen anytime” shortly before he collapsed.
The incident transformed what had begun as a solemn farewell for one deceased person into another moment of mourning, as attendees were confronted with the sudden death of the minister delivering the funeral sermon.
Nigerian dancer cum entertainer, Iweh Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, has spoken about his ordeal following his release on bail in the United Kingdom.
Naija News recalls that Snaresbrook Crown Court had earlier fixed September 15 for plea and trial preparation in Poco Lee’s sexual offence case.
The case stems from Poco Lee’s visit to the UK in August for the Davido and Friends concert, which was held at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on August 14.
However, during a video call with social commentator, VeryDarkMan, Poco Lee said his main concern while he was away was the welfare of his associates and the impact of his absence on their business activities.
The dancer maintained that he is innocent of the sexual allegation and his mind is pure.
He said, “I was just being myself. God sees my heart. My only worries were about my people. Jago could not do anything business, and I didn’t want to stress anyone.
“If I was inside there and I did what I was accused of, I would have felt I was paying for my sins, but since I knew I didn’t do what I was accused of, my mind is pure.
“Nobody would have wanted to associate themselves with something like that, but Burna Boy stood by me, Jago and some of my other guys.”
VeryDarkMan, who shared the video call on social media, also praised Nigerian singers, Burna Boy and Rahman Jago for their support.
In the caption accompanying the video, VDM wrote: “I just got off a video call with @rahman_jago_ and @poco_lee. I guess the next narrative will be this is AI. THERE IS A REASON WHY I BRAG WITH INTEGRITY, I AM NOBODY’S mate, WHEN I talk take it to the bank.”
The Rivers State House of Assembly has passed the state’s ₦1.8 trillion 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Daily Voice reports that the bill was unanimously passed by 26 lawmakers during the Assembly’s resumed sitting in Port Harcourt.
Once assented to by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the budget will provide basis for the state government’s expenditure and implementation of programmes and projects.
More to come…
