Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last Edo State governorship election, has filed a ₦500 million defamation lawsuit against the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe.
The case was filed at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square. Ighodalo is seeking damages, a retraction of the alleged defamatory statement and a public apology from Tenebe.
The lawsuit follows an alleged defamatory statement made by Tenebe in a viral video on December 10, 2024. In the video, Tenebe accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds, stating:
“Asue Ighodalo will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before.”
This statement was made in reaction to a gaffe by Governor Monday Okpebholo during the presentation of his ₦605 billion budget estimates to the Edo State House of Assembly.
Before filing the lawsuit, Ighodalo, through the Banwo and Ighodalo law firm, issued a pre-action notice on December 11, 2024, demanding a retraction and apology within seven days. However, Tenebe, through his lawyer, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, denied the allegations of defamation and refused to comply.
Agbomhere, in response to the pre-action notice, said, “We further want to state unequivocally that our client did not defame your client in any way, and as such, there is no need for a public apology or retraction of comments made in the alleged video. But if your client decides to stretch this issue further by going to court, we will rely on the defence of justification in accordance with the report of the Edo State Vehicle Recovery Committee, whose report indicted your client and the preliminary report of the Edo State Asset Verification Committee.”
In his suit, Ighodalo argues that the viral video was intended to damage his reputation and cause public ridicule. He stated that since the video’s release, he has received numerous inquiries from colleagues, business partners and other stakeholders questioning the allegations, leading to significant distress and embarrassment.
“Undoubtedly, this development has exposed our Client to great distress, hurt, and humiliation,” the letter by Ighodalo’s lawyers read.
Ighodalo is asking the court to compel Tenebe to issue a letter of apology within seven days of the judgment.
