Ighodalo threatens Oshiomhole with N20b lawsuit over ‘slander’

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has been given seven days to retract a “malicious and slanderous statement” against Dr Asue Ighodalo, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State.

Ighodalo said Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor, must tender a private and public apology for the alleged infraction or face a N20 billion legal action.

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This is contained in a letter dated August 12, 2024, by Ayo Asala, SAN & Associates, solicitors and lawyers to Ighodalo.

The PDP candidate said Oshiomhole made “very wild and unsubstantiated claims” about him during a recent appearance on national television, Arise News.

Ighodalo alleged that Oshiomhole maintained his claims and also made other derogatory remarks that directly attacked his person, reputation, and integrity.

“On or about 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 concerned our clients. These statement have also seen widely circulated on various social media platforms including ‘X’ (formally called Twitter), ‘WhatsApp’ and ‘Facebook’ and others.”

Ighodalo’s lawyers then 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.

He stated that failure to act on their demands would lead to legal action involving a claim of N20B for damages without further notice.