Court remands Oba of Benin palace’s scribe, 6 others over illegal demolition

A Benin High Court Thursday remanded the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Frank Irabor and six others in Oko Correctional Centre over alleged demolition of illegal buildings.

The others six are Chief Oko-oboh Ebosele , Aghavbere Osawemwenguan,  Abel Oko-Oboh, Tuesday Atagamene, Okechukwu Okeke and Ode Uloko.

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The accused persons were arraigned on a six count-charge bothering on forceful taking over of land and illegal demolitions of building at Ulegun village in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo.

The police said the accused allegedly involved in the illegal demolition of over 60 houses at Ulegun village worth N500 million.

Reading the charge sheet, the police legal officer, Polycarp Odion, said the suspects conspired to forcefully takeover some lands at Ulegun community.

The charge sheet reads in part” That on August 28, at Ulegun community, in Benin City, in the Benin Criminal Division, you did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Malicious Damage and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

“That you did willfully and unlawfully damage about 60 houses belonging to different persons at Ulegun Community, value of properties amounting to about N500 million and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The prosecutor told the court that the charge file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

He urged the court to remand the accused pending the advice of the DPP, saying the charges were grievous one.

The presiding judge, Justice Mary Itsueli, remanded the accused persons pending the DPP advice and adjourned the case to September 15. 

Recall that Frank Irabor on Sunday led people to demolish houses at ulegun community, alleging that they were built on the land belonging to Oba of Benin.