The Edo State Government has threatened swift legal action against Mr. Ogbeide Ifaluyi-Isibor over a viral social media post it described as malicious, defamatory, and criminally misleading.
In a strongly worded letter dated June 8, 2025, and signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Rt. Hon. Dr. Samson R. Osagie, the government condemned the publication, which accuses Governor Sen. Monday Okpebholo and his cabinet of gross misconduct, incompetence, and corruption.
The post, widely circulated online on June 6, 2025, alleged that the administration had convened only three Executive Council meetings in eight months, accused the Governor of absentee leadership from Abuja, and claimed that state funds were being secretly stockpiled to settle a forthcoming Supreme Court judgment linked to previous contracts.
Dr. Osagie dismissed the claims as “completely false, reckless, and designed to mislead the public and discredit the administration.” He stated that the Okpebholo-led government—barely eight months in office—has held multiple Executive Council meetings and is actively delivering on its development agenda, including major infrastructure projects like the ongoing flyovers in Benin City.
“This is not free speech. It is calculated defamation aimed at undermining public confidence in the government,” Osagie said.
The government warned that unless Mr. Ifaluyi-Isibor issues an unreserved public apology within 24 hours—across all his social media platforms and in at least one national daily—it will pursue both civil and criminal actions to hold him accountable.
“This publication constitutes criminal defamation,” the Attorney General stated. “We will not hesitate to activate legal and security channels to compel you to prove these grave allegations in a court of law.”
The warning underscores the Edo State Government’s zero-tolerance stance on misinformation and coordinated attempts to destabilize its leadership, especially in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.