The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has taken legal action against Senator Adams Oshiomhole over claims made during a recent campaign rally. Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, accused Ighodalo of being involved in a controversial Ponzi scheme called “Planwell,” which allegedly defrauded many people in the early 1990s.
Oshiomhole claimed that Ighodalo and his associates benefited from the scheme, leaving Edo residents financially ruined. In response, Ighodalo’s lawyer, Ayo Asala (SAN), dismissed the accusations as false and defamatory, labeling them as a politically motivated attack meant to damage Ighodalo’s reputation.
The lawyer’s statement criticized Oshiomhole for making baseless claims to advance his political agenda. It emphasized that Ighodalo, a respected legal professional and corporate leader, had no involvement in the alleged Ponzi scheme. The letter also noted that these false statements have caused significant reputational harm to Ighodalo.
Ighodalo has demanded an immediate public retraction and apology from Oshiomhole, to be broadcast on two national TV stations and published in three widely circulated newspapers. Additionally, he is seeking ₦20 billion in damages for the harm caused by the defamatory remarks. The legal team has made it clear that if these demands are not met, they will proceed with a lawsuit against Oshiomhole without further notice.