by Happiness Ulumefoh

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Igbodalo, is set to sue the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in state, Jarrett Tenebe, over defamatory comments made against Igbodalo.

The law firm of Banwo & Ighodalo, in a letter dated December 18, 2024, and signed by Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), condemned Tenebe’s accusations, describing them as “libelous, reckless, and unfounded”.

Tenebe claims that Igbodalo “has stolen billions before” and specifically said he “stole 21 government vehicles” from the Edo State Government.

These allegations, the law firm noted, persist despite a December 11 letter demanding an immediate retraction and apology.

Banwo & Ighodalo gave Tenebe three days to withdraw the statements or face formal court proceedings.

The law firm reiterated its resolve to pursue all legal remedies if the defamatory statements were not retracted within the stipulated timeframe.

It emphasized that the weaponization of misinformation for political gain erodes public trust and damages democratic institutions, calling on all parties to uphold the principles of truth, integrity, and decency in public discourse.

It all began after Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo fumbled while trying to read out figures during his budget presentation to the state House of Assembly.

Rising to Okpebholo’s defence, Tenebe had said the governor struggled with the figures because he was not a thief.

“It’s a normal thing, Zuma made such mistake, and a lot of people make such mistakes. I don’t know figures. You see, that is how to know original and innocent people,” Tenebe said in a video that had quickly gone viral.

“Obaseki will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before. Asue Ighodalo will not make such mistake because he has stolen billions before,” he said.

Ighodalo’s lawyers from Banwo & Ighodalo had promptly written to Tenebe on December 11, 2024 demanding an apology and retraction within seven days.

But in a response through his lawyer, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere Esq. of Blessing Agbomhere and Partners, dated 17th December 2024, Tenebe said he was standing by his comments.

He claimed the said video was devoid of any atom of defamation, insisting that as the Edo State APC Chairman, he made the comments in accordance with his rights of free speech as a citizen of Nigeria.

“We further want to state unequivocally that our client did not defame your client in anyway and as such, there is no need for a public apology or retraction of comments made in the alleged video,” Agbomhere said in the letter.

“But if your client decides to stretch this issue further by going to court, we will rely on the defense 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,” he said.

Ighodalo was the economic adviser to former Governor Godwin Obaseki for eight years and chaired the annual Alaghodaro Summit.