The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in last September’s governorship election in Edo State, Dr. Asue Ighodalo has given the acting state Chairman of of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Jarret Tenebe seven days within which to retract and offer unreserved public apology over a video recorded and disseminated widely by the latter.
In a demand letter dated 11 December 2024 by leading Nigerian law firm, Banwo & Ighodalo and signed by Chinedum Umeche, the firm said that it would file proceedings in the High Court of Lagos State, if Tenebe failed to comply with its demand.
Tenebe has been accused of making and circulating a video on 10 December 2024, in which he alleged that Ighodalo, a prominent lawyer and public figure, had “stolen billions”.
According to the legal team, the video also insinuated that Ighodalo is “incapable of holding public office”.
The letter stated that, in the video, Tenebe said: “Asue Ighodalo will not make such mistake, because he has stolen billions before.”
Ighodalo’s lawyers contended that the video, widely circulated on platforms such as Arise News, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and Instagram, was meant to suggest that:
“Our client is a thief and has appropriated to himself, public funds amounting to ‘billions’, without permission or justification.
“Our client has been convicted of the offence of stealing ‘billions’.
“Our client is a dishonorable man incapable of holding public office”.
The law firm rejected the claims, calling them “wholly untrue” and a “calculated attempt to damage our Client’s well-preserved reputation”.
Highlighting the fallout from the allegations, Banwo & Ighodalo noted that: “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”.
The letter emphasised that Ighodalo’s track record speaks to his integrity. As a founding partner of Banwo & Ighodalo, often cited as a Tier 1 corporate and commercial law firm, and as a flag bearer in the recent Edo State governorship election, he has never been accused or convicted of any crime, in Nigeria or elsewhere.
The law firm emphasised the importance of protecting the reputation of individuals, particularly those in public service, from reckless, premeditated, baseless and harmful allegations.
It demanded two immediate actions from Tenebe within seven days: “Procure the recording and publishing of a retraction of the defamatory video; and issue a letter of apology to our client”.
The firm made it clear that failure to comply would result in litigation, stating: “You are advised that ignoring this letter may lead to court proceedings being issued against you by our client in the High Court of Lagos State, without further notice”.
Tenebe’s video emerged amidst discussions following the presentation of the Edo State 2025 Appropriation Bill, which was reportedly highlighted with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s gaffe.
The episode comes against the backdrop of the ongoing judicial proceedings in which Ighodalo is contesting the outcome of the governorship election.
