Court grants Peter Obi leave to serve Kenneth Okonkwo by substituted means
An Anambra State High Court sitting in the Onitsha Judicial Division has granted the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, leave to serve court processes on actor-turned-politician Kenneth Okonkwo through substituted means.
The development was disclosed by Obi’s media aide, Valentine Obienyem, in a post on his Facebook page.
According to the post, the order was granted by Justice D.A. Onyefulu on June 30, 2026, in Suit No. O/229/2026 and Motion No. O/1322M/2026.
The ex parte application was moved by counsel to the plaintiff, Chisom Ibemesi, after an affidavit detailed unsuccessful attempts by the court bailiff to personally serve the defendant with the originating court processes.
In her ruling, Justice Onyefulu granted leave for the writ of summons and all accompanying or subsequent court processes to be served by pasting them at Okonkwo’s last known residential address at NPR 48 Ofuluonu, Nsukka, Enugu State, near Ijeoma Fishing Company, or by delivering the documents to any adult found at the address.
The court also directed that photographic evidence of the substituted service be taken and filed before the court as proof of compliance.
Justice Onyefulu ordered that the service be effected within seven days from the date of the order.
The application was brought pursuant to Sections 6 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the relevant provisions of the Anambra State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019.
The order clears the way for the suit instituted by Obi against Okonkwo to proceed after repeated unsuccessful attempts to personally serve the defendant. The substantive issues in the case are yet to be heard by the court.
