By Abiola Olawale
The Edo State Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr. Asue Ighodalo, has filed a legal action against Senator Adams Oshiomhole, the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial district of Edo state at the Senate.
Ighodalo, in the lawsuit, is seeking the payment of N20 billion over alleged defamatory comments made by Oshiomhole, a two-term governor of Edo State and one time national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).
The PDP Governorship candidate claimed Oshiomhole associated him with an alleged pyramid scheme known as ‘PLANWELL’ in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds”
According to him, the allegations are false and an attempt to soil his reputation.
Ighodalo, in a letter through his counsel, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, addressed to Oshiomhole is demanding immediate retraction and apology to be published in at least two national television networks and three nationally circulating newspapers.
The letter reads in part: “It is our information that at a campaign rally of your Party on Saturday, 14th of September 2024, you made statements to the effect that our aforesaid client, Dr Ighodalo, was associated with or participated in an alleged pyramid scheme known as ‘PLANWELL’ in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds.
“This false and unfounded statement of yours was broadcast live on television and has received extensive exposure on electronic and social media. 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 election.
“Take notice that it is our client’s instructions that we immediately institute appropriate proceedings against you for damages in the sum of N20 billion for your said false, malicious, irresponsible and damaging statements made against our client without any foundation whatsoever.”
