Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 21 September 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has given Senator Adams Oshimhole, seven days to retract alleged malicious and slanderous statements he made against he made against his person on national television......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Besides, Ighodalo also demanded that the immediate past governor of the state tender public and private apologies to him which must also be published in two national dailies, namely, the Vanguard and ThisDay newspapers.
Ighodalo added that failure to meet his demands, he would have no other option than to institute a ₦20 billion suit against the former Oshiomhole.
The governorship hopeful addressed his demands to Oshiomhole in a letter dated 12 August 2024, by his lawyers, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates.
The letter noted that while appearing on national television last week, Arise News, Oshiomhole, made very wild and unsubstantiated claims, lying about the status of Ighodalo’s candidacy.
It added that even when cautioned and warned about the fallacy by the moderators of the programme, Oshiomhole maintained his claims and also made other derogatory remarks about Ighodalo, thus directly attacking his person, reputation and integrity.
The letter read in part:
“On or about the 7th day of August 2024, our client’s attention was drawn to widely circulated statements made by you while being interviewed on a National Television Station, Arise News, during its Morning Show Program, touching and concerning our clients. These statements have also been widely circulated on various social media platforms including ‘X’ (formally called Twitter), ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘Facebook’ and others.”
Ighodalo’s lawyers then specifically demanded that Oshiomhole should within seven days of receipt of the letter, write a private letter of apology and retraction of the false and defamatory utterances to Ighodalo and a further public letter of apology and retraction that will be published on Arise TV and in two National Newspapers, namely, Vanguard and ThisDay Newspapers.
The letter concluded that failure to act on their demands, Ighodalo would have no option but to institute a legal action involving a claim of ₦20 billion for damages without any further notice.