An Anambra State High Court has granted Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi permission to serve court processes on former ally Kenneth Okonkwo through substituted means in his ₦8 billion defamation lawsuit after efforts to effect personal service were unsuccessful.
The High Court of Anambra State has granted Peter Obi leave to serve court documents on actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo through substituted means in an ongoing ₦8 billion defamation suit. The order followed an ex parte application after the court bailiff was unable to personally serve the defendant with the originating processes.
Justice D. A. Onyefulu granted the application after considering an affidavit detailing the unsuccessful attempts to personally serve Okonkwo.
The court ordered that the writ of summons and all accompanying court processes be served by pasting them at Okonkwo’s residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, or by delivering them to any responsible adult found at the address.
The lawsuit stems from comments allegedly made by Okonkwo during a television interview in which he accused Obi of financial impropriety in the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections. Obi maintains that the allegations are false, malicious and defamatory.
Before filing the suit, Obi had issued a pre-action notice demanding a public apology, retraction and ₦5 billion in compensation. Okonkwo rejected the demands and insisted he stood by his statements, prompting Obi to institute legal proceedings.
In the substantive suit, Obi is seeking a total of ₦8 billion in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, alongside a court order compelling Okonkwo to publish a public apology and permanently refrain from making similar allegations.
Obi’s legal team argued that substituted service became necessary because repeated efforts to personally serve the defendant had failed.
The case is expected to proceed after the court documents are served in accordance with the order granted by the High Court.
The ruling marks another development in the legal dispute between the former political allies, whose relationship deteriorated following disagreements over party politics ahead of the 2027 general elections. The substantive defamation suit will proceed once service of the court processes has been completed.