Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the recent Edo State governorship election, has filed a defamation suit seeking N500 million in damages against Jarret Tenebe, the acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State. The suit was filed before the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square (LD/ADR/5731/2025).
Ighodalo’s legal team is demanding that Tenebe retract his allegedly defamatory statements, issue an apology, and pay damages. The defamation stems from a viral video posted by Tenebe on December 10, 2024, in which he accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds. Tenebe’s remarks followed a controversial moment during the Edo State Governor’s presentation of a N605 billion budget to the Edo House of Assembly. In the video, Tenebe claimed, “Asue Ighodalo will not make such a mistake because he has stolen billions before.”
Before proceeding with the lawsuit, Ighodalo had sent a pre-action notice through his law firm in Lagos on December 11, 2024, demanding a retraction and apology from Tenebe. However, Tenebe, through his lawyer, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, denied any wrongdoing. The response from Tenebe’s legal team asserted that the statements made were not defamatory and indicated that Tenebe would rely on the defense of justification, referring to reports from the Edo State Vehicle Recovery and Asset Verification Committees that allegedly implicated Ighodalo.
In the lawsuit, Ighodalo is requesting the court to compel Tenebe to issue an apology within seven days of the judgment. Ighodalo’s legal representatives argue that the video was deliberately published to damage his reputation and that the aftermath has caused him significant distress and humiliation, particularly as he has received numerous inquiries from colleagues, business partners, and others regarding the allegations.
