Udenwa Slams Kenneth Okonkwo With N5bn Defamation Suit Over Explosive TV Claims

(Chief Achike Udenwa And Kenneth Okonkwo. Photo Credit: News Express)

Chief Achike Udenwa, the former governor of Imo State, has filed a N5 billion defamation lawsuit in the Owerri Judicial Division of the High Court of Imo State against Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo, a lawyer, politician, and Nollywood actor.

A former Imo State governor, Achike Udenwa, has dragged a chieftain of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Kenneth Okonkwo, before the court over comments made against him during a live television appearance.

Court papers show the Writ of Summons, dated 24th July 2026 and marked Suit No. HOW/ /2026, was served on Okonkwo outside jurisdiction at Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State.

The suit relates to remarks Okonkwo is said to have made on 8th June 2026 while featuring on a television programme's Sunrise Daily segment.

He was quoted as saying that the NDC had put out a statement indicating that it was only the party's South East caucus that was embroiled in such problems, naming Onyema Ugochukwu, Udenwa, Peter Obi and other South East caucus leaders as being busy extorting aspirants from the region.

According to the filing, the remarks were broadcast live before later being published online under a title referencing Okonkwo's criticism of Obi and condemnation of the NDC primaries, and were further circulated through Okonkwo's verified accounts on social media and other online platforms.

Udenwa, described in the court papers as a Chartered Accountant who governed Imo State between 1999 and 2007 and served as Minister of Commerce and Industry from 2008 to 2010, states that he remains a member of the NDC without holding any executive position in the party.

He denies ever extorting any aspirant, insisting he was never in his career accused of fraud, dishonesty or financial impropriety, and that he played no part in the party's 2027 candidate nomination process.

He further denies ever meeting Ugochukwu or Obi to extort South East aspirants, and says he has not been investigated or charged by the EFCC, ICPC or any other investigative body.

He claims the allegations have caused serious damage to his credit and reputation, prompting numerous calls from associates seeking clarification.

Udenwa is asking the court to declare the statements false, malicious, baseless and defamatory.

He is seeking N5,000,000,000 in general damages for injury to his reputation, character, integrity and political standing; an order compelling Okonkwo to publish a full retraction and apology.

On the television station, its online platform and across social media, as well as in three national daily newspapers within 30 days; an order for the removal of all related posts, videos and publications; a perpetual injunction restraining Okonkwo from making similar allegations in future; and N25,000,000 as counsel's fees, in addition to costs.

His lawyer, Chief Soronnadi Njoku, SAN & Co, states that Okonkwo has 42 days from the date of service to enter appearance, failing which judgment could be entered against him in his absence.