Last week’s alleged defamatory remarks by the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, against the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last September’s governorship election in the state, Dr. Asue have drawn widespread condemnation. Tenebe’s recent social media posts threatening the life of a critic, Pharez Okpere, have also sparked outrage.
Tenebe’s accusations and threats have however reignited scrutiny of his own past, including a notable court case in 2014 involving alleged fraud and crude oil theft, as well as allegations of misconduct while in military service. The APC chieftain’s record is fraught with controversies that cast a long shadow over his credibility.
In October 2014, Tenebe, governorship aspirant in the state was arrested and arraigned alongside six others for an alleged crude oil theft scheme valued at N1.2 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the case before a Federal High Court in Lagos, alleging that Tenebe and his accomplices conspired to defraud the Federal Government by unlawfully exporting crude oil to Ghana.
The charges, according to court documents, included forging documents purportedly issued by the Nigerian Navy and falsely claiming to have clearance for the illegal export. The EFCC asserted that the fraudulent activity caused significant financial loss to the nation’s coffers.
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The severity of the allegations led Justice Okon Abang to deny Tenebe’s bail application, citing the gravity of the offence and its implications for public trust. Though the case stalled over time, it left an indelible mark on Tenebe’s reputation.
The latest developments further expose a pattern of outbursts, amidst growing concerns over the politician’s adverse behaviour toward critics. In a formal petition filed with the Department of State Services (DSS), in Benin City, the Edo State capital, lawyers representing Okpere accused Tenebe of “threat to life, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace”. The petition detailed a chilling Facebook comment posted by Tenebe on 10 December 2024, in response to Okpere’s critique of governance in Edo State.
Tenebe’s comments included alarming threats such as, “some people will have to excuse us from Edo now, and if they refused, they will be forced out. We may start with you”, and “That your friend Pharez will soon see something. You know I don’t joke; if I say it, I mean it… If I asked you to leave and you refused, you will be killed”.
According to the petition, these threats left Okpere in a state of fear for his life and unable to return home. His lawyers described Tenebe’s actions as a gross abuse of his position as acting Chairman of the APC in Edo State, using his influence to intimidate and silence dissenting voices. The petition calls for an investigation and swift action by the DSS to safeguard Okpere’s fundamental rights to life and dignity, which they argue have been gravely violated by Tenebe’s remarks.
This incident, coupled with the alleged defamatory attacks on Ighodalo and Tenebe’s checkered history, are seen as an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices, and have drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups, who argue that Tenebe’s remarks are a dangerous affront to freedom of speech.
One activist noted: “When political leaders resort to threats of violence or defamation to silence critics, it reflects an alarming erosion of democratic principles”.
Against this backdrop, Tenebe’s recent outburst against Ighodalo has been described by many as an attempt to deflect attention from his own controversies. In a video circulated earlier this week, Tenebe accused Ighodalo of having “stolen billions”, a claim swiftly debunked by the PDP governorship candidate’s legal team at Banwo & Ighodalo.
The lawyers characterised the allegations as “wholly untrue” and a deliberate effort to “damage our client’s well-preserved reputation”. They further outlined the damaging implications of Tenebe’s statements, noting that the video was widely circulated on platforms such as Arise News, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp.
In their letter to Tenebe, Ighodalo’s lawyers stated: “These very serious allegations are wholly untrue and constitute a calculated attempt to tarnish our client’s reputation. Our client has never been charged with or convicted of any offence, let alone theft of public funds”.
The legal team has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from Tenebe, noting that the video has caused their client significant distress and harm. They described the allegations as a “calculated attempt to damage our client’s well-preserved reputation”.
The resurfacing of Tenebe’s 2014 scandal has sparked renewed calls for accountability and transparency, particularly in political discourse. Political analysts have decried the use of intimidation, falsehoods and character assassination as tools to distract from pressing governance issues. These developments highlight the urgent need for accountability and decorum in political discourse. Civil society and political analysts alike have called for an end to the weaponisation of falsehoods and the resort to intimidation tactics in politics.
The right to free speech, a cornerstone of democracy, is not absolute; it ends where the rights and dignity of another person begin. Speech that incites harm, spreads falsehoods, or threatens another’s life and safety crosses the line from expression to abuse.
In this context, Tenebe’s alleged defamatory statements against Ighodalo and reported violent threats toward Okpere are a blatant violation of these boundaries, even as they undermine individual rights and erode the principles of respect and accountability essential to a just society.
As Nigerians await Tenebe’s response to the legal demand, the spotlight on his credibility grows brighter, raising pressing questions about the moral standing of those in public leadership. For many, the case is a stark reminder that integrity, not intimidation or defamation, should define public office holders.
Omoregie, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin City
