The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last Edo State governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has filed a N500 million defamation lawsuit against the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Mr. Jarret Tenebe. The suit, marked LD/ADR/5731/2025, was filed at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square.
Dr. Ighodalo is seeking damages for alleged defamatory statements made by Mr. Tenebe in a viral video published on December 10, 2024. In the video, Mr. Tenebe accused Dr. Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds, citing allegations against Governor Monday Okpebholo during the presentation of the N605 billion budget estimates to the Edo State House of Assembly.
Mr. Tenebe alleged, “Obaseki will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before. Asue Ighodalo will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before.”
In response, Dr. Ighodalo, through the Lagos-based law firm Banwo and Ighodalo, issued a pre-action notice to Mr. Tenebe on December 11, 2024, demanding a retraction and an apology within seven days. However, Mr. Tenebe, represented by his lawyer, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, declined the demands, insisting that his statements were not defamatory and citing reports from the Edo State Vehicle Recovery Committee and the Edo State Asset Verification Committee as justification.
In the lawsuit, Dr. Ighodalo is requesting the court to order Mr. Tenebe to issue a public apology and retract the statements within seven days of the court’s judgment. He claims the viral video was intended to damage his reputation and has caused him “great distress, hurt, and humiliation,” with numerous inquiries from colleagues, business partners, and Nigerians both locally and abroad.
Justice A.O. Opesanwo has scheduled a hearing for March 5, 2025.
The case highlights ongoing political tensions in Edo State following last year’s governorship election and the controversies surrounding public finance management.
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