ONITSHA – The High Court of Anambra State, sitting in the Onitsha Judicial Division, has granted an order permitting Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), to serve court processes on Kenneth Okonkwo through substituted means. This ruling comes as part of the ongoing 8 billion naira defamation lawsuit filed by Mr. Obi against his former spokesperson. The court’s decision follows reports that standard attempts to serve the defendant personally at his residence in Nsukka, Enugu State, faced procedural hurdles. SUBSTITUTED SERVICE AUTHORIZED By granting the application for substituted service, the court has authorized the plaintiff’s legal team to effect service by alternative methods, such as pasting the court documents at the defendant’s last known address or through other legally recognized channels. This measure is intended to ensure that the litigation proceeds without further delay, regardless of the defendant’s availability at his primary residence. THE DEFAMATION DISPUTE The lawsuit, marked O/229/26, stems from allegations made by Mr. Okonkwo during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on June 8, 2026. During the broadcast, Mr. Okonkwo alleged that Mr. Obi and the South-East caucus of the NDC demanded a 10 million naira bribe from House of Representatives aspirants to secure party tickets. He further accused the former Anambra governor of personally manipulating the list of party candidates. Mr. Obi, through his legal counsel, Alex Ejesieme (SAN), has categorically denied these accusations, labeling them as "false, malicious, and defamatory." The plaintiff is seeking 5 billion naira in general damages, 2 billion naira in aggravated damages, and 1 billion naira in exemplary damages, alongside a formal retraction and a perpetual injunction to prevent the repetition of the claims. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS The writ of summons, issued on June 25, 2026, commands Mr. Okonkwo to enter an appearance in court within 42 days of service. With the court now granting substituted service, the legal clock officially begins to tick for the defendant. Failure to respond within the stipulated timeframe could lead to the court entering a judgment against Mr. Okonkwo in his absence. The dispute highlights a deepening rift between the two former allies, who both transitioned from the Labour Party (LP) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and later found themselves on opposing sides of the current political divide. As the case moves forward, the court is expected to focus on the evidentiary basis for the alleged extortion claims versus the reputation damage cited by the plaintiff.