Oba of Benin bars suspended six palace officials

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has barred the six suspended palace functionaries who allegedly

presented themselves as the palace’s emissaries before the Ooni of Ife in a function, from palace activities.

Newspot recall that Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin had, in a letter signed on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council, dated April 26, announced the suspension of the six palace functionaries.

However, a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, dated April 29, 2024, and made available to newsmen, said the suspended palace functionaries have been barred from the palace.

The palace functionaries are

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Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre Ihogbe, S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba Ogbelaka,Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame.

According to him, the self-serving traditional functionaries who engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin custom have been banned from Oba Palace in Benin City, Edo State.

“These integrity-challenged individuals had falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin, in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ọjájá II, where they rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooniship of Ife at Ooni of Ife’s palace in Osun State, recently, ” he said.

Iguobaro, said the embattled palace functionaries admitted their offences before the committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, that they erred against Benin customs.

He added that the Uwangue of Benin-led committee which described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish the Benin Kingdom, pronounced the suspension of the palace’s functionaries.

He said the functionaries were also stripped off Benin royal beads, recognition as palace functionaries and traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, added that the

suspended palace functionaries were also barred from parading themselves as Benin palace functionaries and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin.