The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has filed a N20 billion lawsuit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole over comments related to the Planwell scheme.
Ighodalo, through his legal representatives, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, is also demanding an immediate public retraction and apology for what he described as false, defamatory, and malicious remarks.
The apology is requested to be broadcast on at least two national television networks and published in three nationally circulating newspapers.
The PDP candidate denounced Oshiomhole’s allegations as baseless and defamatory, characterising them as part of a pattern of untrue statements the senator has made in recent times.
He stated that Oshiomhole’s comments were a fabrication intended to tarnish his reputation and serve the political interests of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the upcoming election.
In a letter dated September 16, 2024, and addressed to Oshiomhole, Ighodalo’s legal team wrote:
“We are counsel to Dr. Asue Ighodalo, who is the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election.
“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.”
Ighodalo’s lawyers demanded that Oshiomhole issue an immediate public apology to rectify the situation and avoid further legal action.
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