By James
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Former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, has indicated plans to initiate legal action against lawyer, politician, and former Nollywood actor Kenneth Okonkwo over alleged defamatory remarks made during a live television broadcast, further intensifying political discourse in Nigeria.
The dispute arises from comments reportedly made by Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s flagship breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, which aired on June 8, 2026.L
According to a pre-action letter dated June 11, 2026, and signed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Soronnadi A. Njoku, on behalf of the former governor, Udenwa maintains that the statements were false, malicious, and damaging to his longstanding reputation.
Central to the matter is an allegation attributed to Kenneth Okonkwo, in which he reportedly claimed that former Minister Onyema Ugochukwu, former Governor Achike Udenwa, Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election Peter Obi, and other leaders of a South-East political caucus were “busy extorting South-East aspirants.”
The remarks reportedly gained significant attention across television broadcasts, online news platforms, blogs, and social media, prompting widespread public discussion and political commentary.
However, Udenwa’s legal representatives contend that the statements constitute a serious allegation of criminal conduct and corruption against a public figure with a distinguished record of service.
In the formal legal notice, counsel for the former governor argued that the remarks portrayed Udenwa as someone who improperly leveraged political influence for personal gain.
The letter further noted that Udenwa served two consecutive terms as Governor of Imo State and later held office as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without any record of indictment or conviction for corruption-related offences.
According to the legal team, the publication has exposed the former governor to public criticism, reputational harm, and emotional distress.
“The allegations have painted our client as a common criminal and have seriously diminished the esteem in which he is held by members of society,” the letter reportedly stated.
In an effort to resolve the matter prior to litigation, Udenwa’s lawyers issued a seven-day ultimatum to Kenneth Okonkwo.
The demands include a full and unequivocal retraction of the alleged defamatory statements, a formal written apology addressed to Chief Achike Udenwa, an undertaking not to repeat similar allegations, publication of the apology in five national newspapers, broadcast of the apology during prime-time programming on Channels Television, and payment of N5 billion in compensation for the alleged reputational damage.
The legal notice states that failure to comply with these demands within the specified period may result in legal proceedings.
Should efforts at resolution prove unsuccessful, Udenwa’s legal team has indicated that it has been instructed to file a defamation suit before a court of competent jurisdiction in Imo State.
The proposed action is expected to seek N5 billion in damages, in addition to injunctive relief aimed at preventing any further publication or repetition of the disputed allegations.
The matter has already attracted considerable public attention due to the prominence of the individuals involved and its potential political implications for the South-East region.
Political analysts suggest that the case could emerge as one of the most closely watched defamation disputes involving high-profile Nigerian political figures in recent years.
For now, attention remains focused on Kenneth Okonkwo and whether he will retract the statements, issue an apology, or contest the allegations through the legal process.
