Benin chiefs barred from oba’s palace

The Oba of Benin in Edo State has barred some chiefs who allegedly engaged in sacrilege and falsehood against the Benin Custom from Oba Palace in Benin City, Edo State.

Those barred by the monarch are Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka), Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.

They were also stripped off the Benin Royal Beads and traditional titles which were “handed over to the ancestors”.

They were alleged to have falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare Il, CFR, Oba of Benin in the presence of the Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II), in his palace where they rendered inaccurate and disjointed accounts of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship.

The palace, in a statement signed by Mr Osaigbovo Iguobaro, spokesman to the Oba of Benin, said they admitted before a committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, that they erred against Benin customs.

The Uwangue of Benin, who described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish Benin Kingdom, pronounced the suspension.

It was gathered that the suspended functionaries were escorted out of the palace by other chiefs, including Ewaise (traditional seers) with occipital horns who invoked their ancestral spirits to bear witness.