Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has filed a ₦20 billion lawsuit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
The lawsuit, filed on September 16, 2024, is in response to comments made by Oshiomhole at a campaign rally two days earlier.
At the heart of the dispute is the “Planwell” scheme, a financial pyramid scam that defrauded numerous Nigerians of their savings. Oshiomhole allegedly accused Ighodalo of being involved in the scheme.
Ighodalo, through his legal team, led by Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, has denied any connection to the scheme. He described Oshiomhole’s claims as “false, malicious, and defamatory.”
The PDP candidate expressed his frustration over what he described as a pattern of “defamatory fabrications” from Oshiomhole.
He claims that this is just one of many false statements the senator has made in the past.
In a strongly worded letter addressed to Oshiomhole, Ighodalo’s lawyers demanded an immediate and unqualified retraction of the statements.
They also asked for an apology to be published on two national television networks and three widely circulated newspapers.
The letter condemned Oshiomhole’s comments, stating that his baseless accusations had caused significant harm to Ighodalo’s reputation.
It read, “Our client has suffered enormous unwarranted reputational damage arising from the lies and baseless fabrications.”
Ighodalo, who is a prominent legal practitioner and corporate leader, insisted that his track record and accomplishments are well known to the public.
He stated that his involvement in any scheme like Planwell was purely a fabrication by Oshiomhole.
The PDP candidate believes the accusations are politically motivated, intended to damage his standing ahead of the upcoming election.
He accused Oshiomhole of attempting to boost the fortunes of his party’s candidate by discrediting him.
Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State and senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
This is not the first time Oshiomhole has been embroiled in controversy over his public statements.
In recent years, the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has faced several accusations of making defamatory remarks against political opponents.
Ighodalo’s lawsuit is significant not just because of the staggering ₦20 billion claim, but also because of its potential impact on the upcoming election.
The letter from Ighodalo’s legal team highlighted that the defamatory comments had been widely broadcast on television and amplified on social media.
The lawyers argued that Oshiomhole, as a public figure and elder statesman, should be more responsible with his statements.
In the letter, Ighodalo’s lawyers described the remarks as “unfounded, false, and malicious.”
They accused Oshiomhole of using his platform to spread lies with the aim of achieving political goals at Ighodalo’s expense.
The lawsuit demands not only the retraction and apology but also the payment of ₦20 billion in damages.
Ighodalo’s legal team has made it clear that they are prepared to pursue the case vigorously if their demands are not met.
