Court allows Peter Obi to serve defamation summons on ex-spokesperson via substituted means

A Nigerian court has allowed presidential candidate Peter Obi to serve a N5 billion defamation lawsuit summons on his former spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, using an alternative method. The State High Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, granted Obi's request to serve Okonkwo via substituted means after initial attempts failed.

Justice D.A. Onyefulu ordered that the court summons and other documents be pasted at Okonkwo's last known address or delivered to any adult residing there. The court also mandated that the service be photographed for the court's records, with the order to be executed within seven days.

This legal action stems from allegations made by Okonkwo on a television program. He claimed that Obi and the South-east caucus of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) demanded a N10 million bribe from House of Representatives aspirants to secure party tickets. Okonkwo specifically cited a message and receipt from an aspirant, Obunike Ohaegbu, as evidence.

However, Obunike Ohaegbu has denied making these statements to Okonkwo. During a separate television appearance, Ohaegbu stated that Peter Obi never asked him to pay a bribe and that he never communicated such claims to Okonkwo. The case highlights a public dispute between former political allies, with accusations and counter-denials circulating in the media.

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service to be photographed and put in the court’s file to show due compliance with orders of the court