Former Governor of Imo State and ex-Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Chief Achike Udenwa, has joined the growing list of political leaders demanding legal redress over alleged defamatory statements made by lawyer and politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, during a recent television interview.
In a letter dated June 11, 2026, issued by Chief Soronnadi A. Njoku, SAN & Co., legal representatives to Chief Udenwa accused Okonkwo of making false and malicious allegations against the elder statesman during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme aired on June 8, 2026.
According to the legal correspondence, Okonkwo allegedly stated during the programme that Chief Udenwa, alongside other South-East political leaders, was involved in the extortion of aspirants within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The letter specifically referenced a statement attributed to Okonkwo in which he allegedly claimed that “Achike Udenwa, Peter Obi and other leaders of the South-East caucus were busy extorting South-East aspirants.”
Udenwa’s lawyers described the allegation as false, malicious, defamatory, and damaging to the reputation of their client, noting that throughout his years in public service, the former governor has never been convicted or accused of corruption, extortion, embezzlement, or related criminal conduct.
The legal team further argued that the statement portrayed Chief Udenwa as a criminal who used public office for personal financial gain, thereby lowering his reputation in the eyes of the public both within and outside Nigeria.
According to the letter, the publication and subsequent circulation of the remarks by several media organizations and online platforms amplified the alleged damage caused to the former governor’s image and standing.
Consequently, Udenwa’s legal representatives demanded that Kenneth Okonkwo, within seven days, publish a strongly worded apology in five national newspapers and ensure that the apology is aired during prime time on Channels Television.
The lawyers also requested a formal retraction of the statements and an undertaking that no further defamatory remarks would be made against their client.
In addition, Chief Udenwa is demanding the payment of N5 billion as compensation for the alleged injury occasioned by the publication.
The legal team warned that failure to comply with the demands within the stipulated timeframe would result in legal proceedings before the appropriate court, seeking damages and injunctive reliefs.
The development comes barely days after reports emerged that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi had also issued a separate legal demand to Kenneth Okonkwo over comments made during the same television appearance.
