By:Douglas Ogbankwa Esq @douglasogbankwa,@gmail.com
1.There was a failed attempted by a family in Benin to crown “a ruler ” of what they call “,the Utan Tan Bini Nation”.
2.The Edo State Government of the then Governor Oshiomhiole arraigned the culprits at the Oredo Magistrate Court 1, Benin City , Presided over by then Magistrate Ojobo , for waging communal war.
3.The reason they were arraigned was because according to the Edo State Traditional and Chieftaincy Edict ,the title of the family is gazetted as part of the Iwebo Palace Society.Mind you ,there was no time before Obaseki, when the Enigies (Dukes) were gazetted.
4.Festus Imafu and I , filed a case at the Edo State High Court, on behalf of Benin Traditional Council and Chief John Osamede Adun (J.P) , that case was then presided over by Hon Justice VOA Oviawe ,suing the said family.
5.Edward Aibangbee Esq., then filed another case against the same family for the Igbineweka Family to defend the Oba of Benin , at the Edo State High Court.
6.The said Family now filed their own case at the Edo State High Court and same was presided over by Hon Justice E. Ahaomoje of the Edo State High Court and a panel led by Hon Justice Bada at the Court of Appeal,Benin , before the case was struck out by the
supreme court .
7.Later under Godwin Obaseki ‘s Government, one of his three Attorneys General (male ) filed a nolle prosequi for those arraigned, which means that their charges were withdrawn.
8.Later ,events happened and in a twist of events a top palace functionary of the Oba of Benin was remanded in prison custody and case prosecuted for some time by the Edo State Ministry of Justice .
9.At that same time a phoney law was passed by the midnight inaugurated Edo State House of Assembly of the minority which passed a law making the Enigies independent of the Oba and trying to reduce the power of the Oba .There was even an attempt to coronate what they called “Oba of Ovia”, a slight on His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare 11, the Oba of Benin.
10.The Obaseki Government stopped paying allocations to the Benin Traditional Council ,which is the body recognised by the principal law ,but rather paid allocations to the renegade Enigies who have now found Edo State Government House as their new found friend.
11.Those who attempted to crown themselves were arraigned and remanded in prison custody.
12.The Edo State Government under Obasek again filed another nolle prosequi to withdraw the charge and in order to rationalise it withdrew the case against the top Palace Functionary.
13.His Royal Majesty-,Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare 11 the Oba of Benin,in all these maintained a studied silence and carried on with regal equanimity.
14.In another twist,the said Enigies now filed another case attempting to balkanize the great Benin Kingdom ,which was a big issue and the Benin Traditional Council joined as a party .The Case was presided over by Hon Justice P. Akhehiero.
