Asue Ighodalo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the upcoming September 21 governorship election in Edo State, has filed a lawsuit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole for comments related to the Planwell scheme.
Ighodalo, through his legal team, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, has demanded N20 billion in damages. He is also seeking an immediate retraction and public apology, to be published on at least two national television networks and in three nationally circulated newspapers.
Ighodalo condemned Oshiomhole’s remarks, calling them “baseless, false, and malicious,” and accused the former governor of engaging in defamatory fabrications to tarnish his reputation. He claimed that Oshiomhole’s comments were politically motivated, intended to boost the prospects of his party and its candidate in the Edo State gubernatorial election.
In a letter dated September 16, 2024, addressed to Oshiomhole, Ighodalo’s lawyers 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 maintained that the allegations are purely fictitious and intended to damage his character. He has requested legal remedies to address the defamation and protect his reputation as the election approaches.
