Ighodalo sues Edo APC Chairman for defamation, demands N500 million

• Dr Asue Ighodalo, PDP’s candidate in the last Edo governorship election, files a N500 million defamation suit against Edo APC Chairman, Jarret Tenebe
• Tenebe accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds in a viral video dated December 10, 2024
• Ighodalo alleges the video caused distress, humiliation, and damage to his professional and personal reputation

Dr Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the last Edo State governorship election, has filed a N500 million defamation lawsuit against the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarret Tenebe.

The suit, numbered LD/ADR/5731/2025, was filed at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square. 

Ighodalo is seeking a retraction of Tenebe’s alleged defamatory statements, a formal apology, and damages amounting to N500 million.

The dispute stems from a viral video dated December 10, 2024, in which Tenebe accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds. 

This accusation followed a gaffe by Governor Monday Okpebholo during the presentation of a N605 billion budget estimate to the Edo State House of Assembly. 

“I don’t know figures. You see, that is how to know original and innocent people. 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,” Tenebe claimed in the video.

In response, Ighodalo, through the Banwo and Ighodalo law firm in Lagos, issued a pre-action notice to Tenebe on December 11, 2024. 

The notice demanded an apology and a retraction of the statements within seven days. 

However, Tenebe, via a letter from his lawyer, Dr Blessing Agbomhere, refused to comply, asserting that no defamatory act had occurred.

Agbomhere stated, “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 lawsuit, Ighodalo claims the video was deliberately created to tarnish his reputation. He alleges that the accusations have caused him significant distress, humiliation, and damage to his professional relationships. According to his legal team:

“The primary objective of procuring the publication of the defamatory video was to tarnish our client’s reputation.

“Since the publication of the defamatory video, our client has received numerous calls from professional colleagues, business partners and other well-meaning Nigerians, locally and in the Diaspora, inquiring as to the propriety of the allegations. Undoubtedly, this development has exposed our Client to great distress, hurt, and humiliation.”

Ighodalo is asking the court to compel Tenebe to issue a written apology within seven days of the judgment. Justice A.O. Opesanwo has scheduled the hearing for March 5, 2025.

Afe Babalola decides to drop charges against Farotimi after appeal from Yoruba monarchs

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, decided to withdraw the criminal defamation charges against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi. 

The move follows a heartfelt appeal from leading Yoruba monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other prominent Ekiti traditional rulers, who urged the respected legal luminary to reconsider the charges.