The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Edo State governorship election on September 21, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has initiated a N20 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
Ighodalo, represented by his legal counsel, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, is demanding an immediate and unequivocal retraction and apology for what he describes as inaccurate, defamatory, and malicious statements made by Oshiomhole. The retraction must be disseminated on at least two (2) National Television Networks and three (3) nationally circulating newspapers.
The PDP candidate has accused Oshiomhole of making “baseless, false, and malicious” allegations that are part of a pattern of defamatory fabrications. According to Ighodalo, these allegations were intended to damage his reputation for political gain, specifically to benefit Oshiomhole and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming Edo State gubernatorial election.
In a letter dated September 16, 2024, from Ighodalo’s lawyers addressed to Oshiomhole, it is stated, “It is our information that at a campaign rally of your Party on Saturday, 14th of September, 2024, you made statements to the effect that our aforesaid client, Dr. Ighodalo, was associated with or participated in an alleged pyramid scheme known as ‘PLANWELL’ in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds.”
The letter continues, “This false and unfounded statement of yours was broadcast live on television and has received extensive exposure on electronic and social media.”
The legal counsel emphasizes, “Our client is an accomplished Nigerian legal practitioner and a corporate leader whose impressive resume from birth up till the current day is entirely in the public domain and our client has absolutely no connection with and could never have been involved in any manner whatsoever with the purported ‘PLANWELL’ scheme with which you have seriously defamed our client’s reputation.”
Ighodalo further asserts, “It is clear that the fabrication of the unfounded and false story regarding the purported involvement of our client in the said ‘PLANWELL’ scheme or any other financial scheme whatsoever, is a figment of your imagination and a story fabricated purely for the purpose of denigrating the good character and reputation of our client for the achievement of the political purpose of advancing the sinking fortunes of your political party and candidate in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial elections.”
He adds, “Our client has been inundated with calls and other contacts from concerned members of the public who heard your said allegations on electronic and social media as a result of which our client has suffered enormous unwarranted reputational damage arising from the lies and baseless fabrications of which you have become the purveyor.”
Ighodalo’s letter concludes with a demand for “An immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for your false, defamatory and malicious statements which should be published in at least two (2) National Television Networks and three (3) Nationally circulating newspapers” and “Pay to our client damages in the sum of 20 billion Naira for your false, defamatory, and malicious statements referred to herein.”
Further Take Notice that such action will be instituted without further notice or correspondence to you in that regard whatsoever,” the letter warns.