Imo ex-governor Udenwa demands ₦5 billion apology from Okonkwo

A former governor of Imo State, Achike Udenwa, has demanded five billion naira in damages and a public retraction from political figure Kenneth Okonkwo over allegations of extortion made during a national television broadcast. The demand, issued through a lawyer's letter dated June 11, 2026, gives Okonkwo seven days to comply or face a defamation lawsuit.

The dispute stems from comments Okonkwo made during an interview on Channels Television's "Sunrise Daily" program on June 8, 2026. During the broadcast, Okonkwo alleged that certain South-East political leaders, including Udenwa and former presidential candidate Peter Obi, were "busy extorting the South East aspirants" within the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC).

In a three-page letter signed by his lawyer, Chief Soronnadi A. Njoku, Udenwa categorically denied the allegations. The letter states that Okonkwo's remarks, which were subsequently republished by various media outlets, falsely portrayed the former governor as having illegally obtained money from political aspirants through compulsion and violence. Udenwa's legal team argued the statement damaged his reputation and portrayed him as "a common criminal who abuses his...