The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, has dismissed claims of defaming the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, to warrant tendering an apology.
Naija News recalls that Tenebe had, in a viral video on 10th December, accused Ighodalo of corruption and misappropriation of state funds in the wake of the gaffe made by Governor Monday Okpebholo during the presentation of his N605 billion budget estimates to the Edo House of Assembly.
According to the APC chieftain, the former Governor of the State, Godwin Obaseki and Ighodalo would not have made such a mistake because they had stolen billions.
In response, Ighodalo, through his lawyers, demanded an apology and retraction of the defamatory statement about stealing public funds amounting to billions.
The PDP guber candidate noted that failure to adhere to the letter within seven days would lead to further court action against Tenebe.
However, Tenebe, in a statement issued in Abuja by his lawyer, Blessing Agbomhere, said he did not defame Ighodalo, and there is no need for an apology or retraction of his remarks, insisting that his comments were justified.
Agbomhere said, “We further want to state unequivocally that our client did not defame your client in any way, and as such, there is no need for a public apology or retraction of comments made in the alleged video.
“But if your client decides to stretch this issue further by going to court, we will rely on the defence of justification in accordance with the report of the Edo State Vehicle Recovery Committee, whose report indicted your client and the preliminary report of the Edo State Asset Verification Committee.”