TELL Magazine

In addition to their suspension, they have been stripped of Benin Royal beads, symbol of their recognition as Palace functionaries and their traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors, barred from parading themselves as Benin Palace functionaries, and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin. They were thereafter escorted out of the Palace grounds by Chiefs, including Ewaise, (traditional seers) with occipital horns which invoked ancestral spirits to bear witness.

The affected persons namely Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka) and two other Ogbelaka functionaries – Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame Edo.

A statement on Monday signed by Osaigbovo Iguobaro, chief press secretary to the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11, said they admitted before a committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, which probed their activities, that they erred against Benin Custom.

Recall that the Benin Traditional Council, (BTC) had last Saturday announced the suspension of the erring traditional functionaries in a statement signed by the Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe. The BTC accused the chiefs, described as “ill-bred individuals”, of declaring themselves subjects of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, and rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of the connection between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooniship of Ife when they visited him.

Chief Igbe said the conduct of the “self-serving” traditional functionaries was “calculated to ridicule traditional history and to bring disrepute to Benin custom”.

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