Asue Ighodalo and Adams Oshiomhole

By Jethro Ibileke 

Dr Asuerinme Ighodalo, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 21 September governorship election in Edo, has demanded the sum of ₦20 billion from Senator Adams Oshiomhole, as the damage for malicious defamatory utterances made against him on Saturday, 14 September 2024, at a political campaign rally in Benin, or face a law suit.

Ighodalo made the demand in a letter by his lawyer, Chief Ayo Asala (SAN), of Ayo Asala and Associates, dated 16th September 2024.

Oshiomhole had allegedly accused Ighodalo of being the brain behind a Ponzi scheme, ‘PLANWELL’, in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds in the past.

The letter titled “Re: Defamatory Statements Made In Respect Of Dr Asue Ighodalo”, stated that:

“It is sad to note that despite your status as an elder and holder of a public office, you appear to have developed a pattern of spewing false statements in the public domain purely for the achievement of your political ends.

“This baseless, unfounded, false and malicious allegation has become another in a long line of such defamatory fabrications and statements made by you in respect of our client in the recent past.

“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.

“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 to denigrate 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.”

Chief Asala went on to say that Ighodalo has been inundated with calls from concerned members of the public, associates, acquaintances and so many people as a result of Oshiomhole’s malicious accusations.

In consequence, the learned senior lawyer demanded “an immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for your false, defamatory and malicious statements which should be published in at least two national television networks and three nationally circulating newspapers.

“Pay to our client damages in the sum of N20 billion Naira for your false, defamatory and malicious statements referred to herein,” the letter read.

The letter further asserted that failure to comply with the above demands would lead to legal actions without further notice.

Ighodalo has consistently maintained that he knows nothing about the said ‘PLANWELL’, which his political opponents have been trying so viciously to tie around his neck.

It would be recalled that just a few weeks ago, Ighodalo also slammed a ₦20 billion suit against Senator Oshiomhole over some alleged malicious and defamatory utterances against him.