By Israella Njasi, Abuja
Kenneth Okonkwo in a fresh hot soup as Udenwa Demands ₦5bn Compensation, over defamatory statement
Former Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo, demanding a public retraction of statements he described as false and defamatory, alongside a ₦5 billion compensation claim.
The demand was made through Udenwa’s lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Soronnadi Njoku, in a formal letter titled: “Your False and Malicious Publication Against His Excellency, Chief Achike Udenwa: Demand for Retraction, Apology, Payment of ₦5bn as Compensation, and Undertaking Not to Make Further Defamatory Publications.”
According to the letter, the controversy stems from comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during a live interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8, 2026, where he reportedly made reference to political leaders of the South-East caucus of a political party.
In the said broadcast, Okonkwo was quoted as alleging that some prominent figures, including Udenwa, were involved in “extorting” political aspirants. Udenwa’s legal team argued that the statement was damaging, insisting that the use of the word “extort” suggested criminal conduct and portrayed the former governor in a negative and unlawful light.
The lawyers maintained that Udenwa, who served two terms as Governor of Imo State and later as a Minister in the Federal Government, has never been accused or indicted for corruption or any criminal offence. They added that his record in public service remains untainted by any corruption-related allegations.
The letter further stated that the remarks were widely circulated across television, print, and online platforms, including several news outlets, and had caused serious reputational harm to the former governor.Based on this, the legal team is demanding that Okonkwo:ssue a written apology and retraction published in at least five national newspapersAir a public apology on prime-time Channels Television broadcastProvide a formal undertaking not to repeat the alleged defamatory statementsPay ₦5 billion as damages for reputational injuryThe notice warned that failure to comply within seven days could lead to legal proceedings.
As of press time, Kenneth Okonkwo has not issued any public response to the demand.
