The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Social gathering within the final Edo State governorship election, Dr Asue Ighodalo, has filed a N500m defamation go well with in opposition to the appearing Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe.
The go well with, marked LD/ADR/5731/2025, was filed earlier than the Lagos State Excessive Courtroom on the Tafawa Balewa Sq..
Ighodalo demanded a retraction of Tenebe’s alleged defamatory assertion in opposition to him, an apology in addition to damages within the sum of N500m.
Ighodalo had final yr, by means of Banwo and Ighodalo regulation agency in Lagos, written Tenebe a December 11, 2024, pre-action discover demanding an apology and instant retraction of the alleged defamatory assertion inside seven days.
The Edo APC chair had, in a viral video on tenth December, accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds within the wake of the gaffe made by Governor Monday Okpebholo throughout the presentation of his N605bn price range estimates to the Edo Home of Meeting.
“I don’t know figures. You see, that’s how one can know authentic and harmless individuals. Obaseki won’t make such a mistake as a result of he has stolen billions earlier than.
Asue Ighodalo won’t make such a mistake as a result of he has stolen billions earlier than,” Tenebe claimed within the video.
Tenebe, in a letter by his lawyer, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, rebuffed Ighodalo’s demand for a retraction, insisting that he didn’t defame him.
Agbomhere, within the letter, stated, “We additional wish to state unequivocally that our consumer didn’t defame your consumer in any means, and as such, there isn’t a want for a public apology or retraction of feedback made within the alleged video.
“But when your consumer decides to stretch this concern additional by going to courtroom, we’ll depend on the defence of justification in accordance with the report of the Edo State Automobile Restoration Committee, whose report indicted your consumer and the preliminary report of the Edo State Asset Verification Committee.”
In his go well with, Ighodalo is praying the courtroom to order Tenebe to concern a letter of apology to him inside seven days of the supply of judgment.
Ighodalo, by means of his attorneys, stated, “The first goal of procuring the publication of the defamatory video was to tarnish our consumer’s fame.
“Because the publication of the defamatory video, our consumer has acquired quite a few calls from skilled colleagues, enterprise companions and different well-meaning Nigerians, regionally and within the Diaspora, inquiring as to the propriety of the allegations. Undoubtedly, this improvement has uncovered our Shopper to nice misery, damage, and humiliation.”
Justice A.O. Opesanwo has mounted March 5, 2025, for a listening to.