N10m Bribe Scandal: Obunike Ohaegbu Dares Kenneth Okonkwo to Produce Evidence, Decries ‘Blackmail’

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Legal practitioner and politician, Obunike Ohaegbu, has openly challenged actor and politician Kenneth Okonkwo to substantiate claims linking former presidential candidate Peter Obi to a ₦10 million bribery allegation.

In a strongly worded statement, Ohaegbu accused Okonkwo of playing a “game of deflection” and employing blackmail rather than relying on verifiable facts.

The Challenge for Evidence

The dispute erupted following public assertions suggesting that Ohaegbu had labelled Peter Obi a criminal and accused him of soliciting a ₦10 million bribe.

Reacting to the claims, Ohaegbu dared Okonkwo to release the unedited records of their communications to back up the narrative.

“Kindly share the full message in issue and also point out specifically where I referred to His Excellency Peter Obi as a criminal,” Ohaegbu stated. “Please also point out where I wrote that His Excellency Peter Obi asked me to pay a bribe of N10 million. I challenge you to reproduce any statement from me in which I made such an allegation.”

Ohaegbu emphasized that Okonkwo’s professional training as a lawyer should have prevented him from making unverified, defamatory statements on national television, regardless of any private grievances.

Presumption of Innocence and Legal Framework

With Peter Obi already pursuing legal remedies over related matters in court, Ohaegbu insisted that the constitution protects the integrity of all citizens until proven otherwise.

“In Nigeria, even persons standing trial for armed robbery are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law,” Ohaegbu argued, refusing to be drawn into a distorted narrative.

He further condemned Okonkwo’s threats to deploy information acquired during his tenure as Peter Obi’s official spokesperson, describing the move as desperate.

“Blackmail is the weapon of the weak and the desperate; men and women of honour rely on facts, evidence, and the strength of their convictions,” he added.

A Jab at the Political Landscape

Concluding his missive, Ohaegbu noted that dramatic political turnarounds have become the norm under the current federal administration. He cited the political conversions and public prominence of erstwhile opposition critics like Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode as proof that “anything is now possible in our political space.”

Okonkwo has yet to publicly respond to the challenge or release the alleged evidence in his possession.

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