Defamation: I May Be Forced To Divulge Confidential Information If You Sue Me, Okonkwo Tells Obi
By Akanni Toba
Kenneth Okonkwo, former ally of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), has said the former Anambra governor may shoot himself in the foot if he makes good his threat to institute a defamation lawsuit against him.
Okonkwo, who is a former spokesperson of Obi, noted that he may be forced to open a can of worms if his ex-principal goes ahead with his plan.
In a series of posts via X made on Wednesday, Okonkwo said it is “very unwise” for anyone to sue their former spokesperson for defamation.
Obi, as presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) ahead of the 2023 vote, was an ally of Okonkwo, who served as one of the spokespersons for the campaign council.
The relationship between Obi and Okonkwo soured following the defection of the former to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to the NDC.
Obi’s defection sparked criticisms from Okonkwo who claimed that the ex-Anambra governor always runs away from intra-party election and prefers to be handed the presidential ticket on a silver platter.
But Okonkwo criticisms took another dimension on Monday while featuring on a Channels Television programme.
While fielding questions from the anchor of the programme, Okonkwo alleged that Obi and the south-east caucus of the NDC demanded bribes from house of representatives and senate hopefuls of the party in return for tickets.
According to Okonkwo, who is now an ADC chieftain, Obunike Ohaegbu, NDC aspirant for house of representatives ticket in Anambra, sent in a message alleging Obi scammed him to the tune of N10 million.
On Tuesday, Ohaegbu appeared on the same television programme to deny allegations that Obi collected N10 million as bribe from him.
The house of representatives aspirant said he paid N10 million to the NDC bank account based on the information he received from the party’s national secretary and not to Obi.
Subsequently, Obi threatened a lawsuit against Okonkwo over alleged defamatory comments, while demanding the sum of N5 billion “as general, aggravated and exemplary damages for the grave injury occasioned to his hard-earned reputation”.
In a series of X posts, the ADC chieftain published screenshots of WhatsApp conversations with a contact saved as “Obunike Ohaegbu”.
Reacting to Obi’s threat to sue him, the Nollywood actor-turned politician insisted that Ohaegbu told him he had been scammed during the NDC primaries and that the party held Obi responsible for the scenario.
He added that Obi would be best served asking him for financial assistance for his 2027 presidential campaign instead of threatening a N5 billion lawsuit.
The ADC chieftain dared Obi and his counsel to take the matter to court.
“It has been brought to my notice that there is a letter circulating online from the hypocrite, Peter Obi, and his Lawyers that I should pay him N5b. Hahaha!,” Okonkwo wrote.
“If Peter Obi is looking for money to campaign, he should privately ask me for assistance, not come from extortion, and I will help him. I did so when I was his Spokesperson paying for my flight tickets and booking for my hotel accommodation to some of our campaigns.
“I have not read the letter. Let me sound this note of warning, the Lawyers must take responsibility for any information I may have to divulge, which I acquired as a spokesperson, but which by my conscience I have not shared with anyone.
“My principle is that I do not use any confidential information I share with anyone against the person except the person who becomes unintelligent enough to tow the line of foolishness. Anyone who decides to sue his former Spokesperson for defamation is indeed very unwise.
“I will reply to the letter whenever I have the time to read it later in the day. Please send it here if you have it. It will be a shame to Peter Obi and his Lawyers if they do not take this case to court.”
