By Abiola Olawale
Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, has filed a defamation lawsuit, seeking ₦500 million against Jarret Tenebe, the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State.
In the legal case filed at the Lagos State High Court, located in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State, Ighodalo is pursuing damages, as well as a formal retraction of what he alleged to be a defamatory statement made against him.
Additionally, Ighodalo is seeking a public apology from Tenebe to address “the harm caused to his reputation.”
The lawsuit follows a reported defamatory statement made by Tenebe in a viral video on December 10, 2024. In the video, Tenebe had accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of Edo state funds.
Tenebe allegedly said: “Asue Ighodalo will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before.”
This statement was made in reaction to a gaffe by Governor Monday Okpebholo during his presentation of the 2025 Edo state government ₦605 billion budget estimates to the Edo State House of Assembly.
In his suit, Ighodalo argued before the court that the viral video was intended to damage his reputation and cause him public ridicule.
He stated that since the video’s release, he has received numerous inquiries from colleagues, business partners and other stakeholders questioning the allegations, leading to significant distress and embarrassment to him.
