26th October, 2021
By Jethro Ibileke
Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, has formally banned a former Chief-Servant (Omuada) of the Palace, Roland Ogbebor, for “abominable and sacrilegious” act of parading himself as the second-in-command to Monarch.
The Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Mr. Frank Irabor, announced this in a statement he read on behalf of the Monarch on Tuesday.
Irabor, who was flanked by prominent Benin chiefs-in-solidarity at the briefing, added that Ogbebor installed Enogie, Ohen and Okao in Benin Kingdom, even after he was relieved of his position by the Monarch in 2018.
The ex Chief Servant was said to have also involved in land-grabbing, extortion, intimidation, impersonation and fraud since his suspension.
According to the Palace statement, the ban is “extended to his participation at all Oba of Benin Palace traditional establishments and functions, including spiritual groups, activities, festivals, shrines and oguedion in Benin Kingdom.”
Irabor noted that since his suspension as the Omuada, Ogbebor has been acting “as a wolf in sheep clothing and confidence trickster.”
He said: “Furthermore, he paraded himself as deputizing for Palace Authority to the extent of being addressed in an abominable manner as the second-in-command to His Royal Majesty. This is sacrilege and abomination, punishable by customary laws of our tradition.
“He has also behaved in treacherous ways to the Throne that is akin to being a traitor. He has been able to do this by disguising himself as a wolf in sheep clothing and confidence trickster. He was of the opinion that his services to the Throne were indispensable.”
While noting that there is an ongoing overhauling of the palace administrative system that would put an end to such act exhibited by Ogbebor, Irabor urged members of the public who may have issues with Ogbebor that has to do with land-grabbing to report to concerned security agencies, copying the palace.
“Finally, any person or village or community that has issue with Roland especially on land-grabbing, extortion, intimidation, impersonation and fraud, is strongly advised to send written complaints to the Secretary, Benin Traditional Council, or the Police, or Department of State Services and, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, copying Benin Traditional Council,” he said.