In a legal twist ahead of the upcoming September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has filed a N20 billion defamation lawsuit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole. The lawsuit, filed through his legal team led by Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, demands an immediate and unconditional apology, as well as a retraction of the alleged defamatory statements.
Ighodalo claims that Senator Oshiomhole, while speaking at a campaign rally on September 14, falsely accused him of involvement in the controversial ‘Planwell’ pyramid scheme. This scheme reportedly defrauded many Nigerians of their savings, according to Oshiomhole’s remarks.
The PDP candidate has described the comments as baseless, malicious, and politically motivated, accusing Oshiomhole of fabricating the story to undermine his reputation and bolster the chances of the opposing party in the forthcoming election. Ighodalo, a well-respected legal practitioner, emphasized that his record is public knowledge and he has no connection to the fraudulent Planwell scheme.
In the lawsuit, Ighodalo is demanding that the retraction and apology be broadcast on two national television networks and published in three widely circulating national newspapers. Additionally, he is seeking damages of N20 billion for the reputational harm caused by Oshiomhole’s statements.
The legal letter issued to Oshiomhole highlights his alleged pattern of making false claims for political gain and warns that failure to comply with the demands will result in legal proceedings without further notice.
The case adds tension to an already heated political atmosphere in Edo State as the governorship election approaches.
