By Omorodion Omoregie
The recent defamatory remarks by Mr. Jarrett Tenebe, Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, calling esteemed lawyer and PDP gubernatorial candidate Asue Ighodalo a “thief,” have drawn widespread condemnation. His recent social media posts threatening the life of a critic Pharez Okpere, have also sparked outrage.
The irony is that Mr. Tenebe’s accusations and threats have only reignited scrutiny of Tenebe’s own tainted past, including a notable court case in 2014 involving alleged fraud and crude oil theft as well as allegations of misconduct while in military service.
Tenebe’s record is fraught with controversies that cast a long shadow over his credibility. In October 2014, Mr. Tenebe, then an Edo State gubernatorial aspirant, made national headlines for all the wrong reasons. He was arrested and arraigned alongside six others for an alleged crude oil theft scheme valued at ₦1.2 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the case before the Federal High Court, Lagos, alleging that Mr. Tenebe and his accomplices conspired to defraud the Federal Government by unlawfully exporting crude oil to Ghana.
The charges, according to court documents, included forging documents purportedly issued by the Nigerian Navy and falsely claiming to have clearance for the illegal export. The EFCC asserted that this fraudulent activity caused significant financial loss to the nation’s coffers.
The severity of the allegations led Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court to deny his bail application, citing the gravity of the offence and its implications for public trust. Though the case stalled over time, it left an indelible mark on Tenebe’s reputation.
Adding to the litany of accusations, are unconfirmed reports that Tenebe was dismissed from the Nigerian Army under murky circumstances. These reports, though unverified, have gained traction, fuelling public skepticism about his fitness for leadership.
The latest developments further expose a pattern of outbursts, amidst growing concerns over his troubling behaviour toward critics. In a formal petition filed with the Department of State Services (DSS) in Benin City, lawyers representing social commentator and activist Hon. Pius “Pharez” Okpere accused Tenebe of “threat to life, cyberbullying, harassment, intimidation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.” The petition details a chilling Facebook comment posted by Tenebe on December 10, 2024, in response to Okpere’s critique of governance in Edo State.
Tenebe’s comments included alarming threats such as, “Some people will have to excuse us from Edo now, and if they refused, they will be forced out. We may start with you,” and “That your friend Pharez will soon see something. You know I don’t joke; if I say it, I mean it… If I asked you to leave and you refused, you will be killed.”
According to the petition, these threats left Okpere, a well-known social critic, in a state of fear for his life and unable to return home. His lawyers described Tenebe’s actions as a gross abuse of his position as Acting Chairman of the APC in Edo State, using his influence to intimidate and silence dissenting voices. The petition calls for an investigation and swift action by the DSS to safeguard Okpere’s fundamental rights to life and dignity, which they argue have been gravely violated by Tenebe’s remarks.
This incident, coupled with the defamatory attacks on Ighodalo and Tenebe’s checkered history, paints a disturbing picture of a desperate political figure whose actions threaten to undermine democratic values and the rule of law in Edo State. These open threats, which are seen as an attempt to intimidate dissenting voices, have drawn widespread condemnation from civil society groups, who argue that Tenebe’s menacing remarks are a dangerous affront to freedom of speech.
One activist noted, “When political leaders resort to threats of violence or defamation to silence critics, it reflects an alarming erosion of democratic principles.”
Against this backdrop, Tenebe’s recent defamatory outburst against Asue Ighodalo has been described by many as an attempt to deflect attention from his own controversies. In a video circulated earlier this week, Tenebe accused Ighodalo of having “stolen billions,” a claim swiftly debunked by Ighodalo’s legal team at Banwo & Ighodalo.
The lawyers characterized the allegations as “wholly untrue” and a deliberate effort to “damage our Client’s well-preserved reputation.” They further outlined the damaging implications of Tenebe’s statements, noting that the video was widely circulated on platforms such as Arise TV, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
In their letter to Tenebe, Ighodalo’s lawyers stated: “These very serious allegations are wholly untrue and constitute a calculated attempt to tarnish our Client’s reputation. Our Client has never been charged with or convicted of any offence, let alone theft of public funds.”
The legal team has demanded an immediate retraction and apology from Mr. Tenebe, noting that the video has caused their client significant distress and harm. They described the allegations as a “calculated attempt to damage our Client’s well-preserved reputation.”
It is ironic that a figure like Mr. Tenebe, whose past includes unresolved allegations of financial misconduct, would accuse Mr. Ighodalo—a respected lawyer, corporate leader, and former gubernatorial candidate—of theft. The contrast between the two men could not be starker. While Mr. Tenebe’s public record is tainted by allegations of serious fraud and misconduct, Mr. Ighodalo has built an impeccable career as the founding partner of a leading law firm and a distinguished public figure.
One political commentator remarked, “The hypocrisy is astounding. Someone with unresolved allegations of defrauding the nation of billions has the audacity to accuse another of theft without a shred of evidence.”
The resurfacing of Mr. Tenebe’s 2014 scandal has sparked renewed calls for accountability and transparency, particularly in political discourse. Political analysts have decried the use of intimidation, falsehoods and character assassination as tools to distract from pressing governance issues. These developments highlight the urgent need for accountability and decorum in political discourse. Civil society and political analysts alike have called for an end to the weaponisation of falsehoods and the resort to intimidation tactics in politics.
The right to free speech, a cornerstone of democracy, is not absolute; it ends where the rights and dignity of another person begin. Speech that incites harm, spreads falsehoods, or threatens another’s life and safety crosses the line from expression to abuse.
In this context, Jarrett Tenebe’s defamatory statements against Asue Ighodalo and violent threats toward Pharez Okpere are a blatant violation of these boundaries, even as they undermine individual rights and erode the principles of respect and accountability essential to a just society.
As Nigerians await Tenebe’s response to the legal demand, the spotlight on his credibility grows brighter, raising pressing questions about the moral standing of those in public leadership. For many, the case is a stark reminder that integrity, not intimidation or defamation, should define public office holders.
Omoregie, a public affairs analyst, writes from Benin City