By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
An Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha has granted the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, leave to serve court documents on popular Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, through substituted means after attempts at personal service were unsuccessful.
The court ordered that the originating processes in the alleged defamation suit be pasted at Okonkwo’s last known address in Nsukka, Enugu State, or delivered to any adult found at the residence.
Justice D.A Onyefulu gave the order on Wednesday, July 1, stating that the order be carried out within seven days.
According to court documents, the case is expected to proceed after the substituted service has been effected.
“Upon reading and considering the motion ex-parte brought pursuant to Sections 6 & 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Order 40 Rules 1 (1) (2); Order 8 Rule 4 (1) (2) of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, affidavit in support, affidavit of attempted service by the bailiff of this court, annexed marked Exhibit A and a written address filed on the 26th day of June, 2026.
“And after hearing Chisom Ibemesi Esq of counsel for the plaintiff/applicant, it is hereby ordered as follows:
“Leave is granted to the plaintiff/applicant to serve the Writ of Summons and other accompanying processes and all other subsequent processes in this suit on the defendant by substituted means to wit; by pasting said processes at the defendant’s home address – NPR 48 Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State (close to Ijeoma Fishing Company, Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State) or by serving same on any adult at the defendant’s home address, i.e NPR 48 Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State (close to Ijeoma Fishing Company, Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State).
“Service to be photographed and put in court’s file to show due compliance with orders of the court. This order is to be carried out within 7 days,” the court order read.
Recall that Okonkwo alleged that Obi and some leaders of NDC in the South-East demanded additional payments from aspirants seeking the party’s National Assembly tickets.
Okonkwo made the allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on June 8, 2026, stressing that he has documentary evidence, including receipts, to support his claims.
He further claimed that Obi personally compiled the party’s candidate lists from a hotel room in Abuja and made other allegations bordering on dishonesty and criminal conduct.
Following the allegations, Obi’s legal team issued a pre-action letter demanding that Okonkwo retract the statements, publish a public apology on Channels Television and his social media platforms, pay N5 billion in damages, and undertake not to make similar allegations in the future.
In the letter, Obi’s legal team accused Okonkwo of making allegations that portrayed the former Anambra State governor as a fraudster, extortionist, and participant in criminal activities.
Reacting to the development in a statement posted on X, Okonkwo dismissed the reported legal action and suggested that Obi was seeking funds for political activities.
