Court Grants Peter Obi Leave To Serve Okonkwo In ₦8 Billion Defamation Suit

An Anambra State High Court has granted Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), leave to serve court processes on African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, through substituted means.

NEWSNGR reports that the order was granted on Tuesday by Justice D.A. Onyefulu after hearing an ex parte application filed by Obi’s counsel, Chisom Ibemesi.

The court granted the application after considering an affidavit showing that efforts by the court bailiff to personally serve Okonkwo were unsuccessful.

“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,” the order read.

The court directed that the processes be pasted at Okonkwo’s residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, or served on any adult at the address.

Onyefulu also ordered that “service be photographed and put in court’s file to show due compliance with orders of the court.”

NEWSNGR recalls that Obi filed the suit after accusing Okonkwo of making defamatory remarks against him during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Okonkwo had alleged that Obi and the South-East caucus of the NDC demanded bribes from National Assembly aspirants in exchange for tickets.

Obi had demanded a retraction, apology in two national newspapers and ₦8bn as damages for alleged injury to his reputation.

Okonkwo, however, rejected the demands, insisting that his comments were based on facts and amounted to fair comment on matters of public interest.