The suspended Benin palace functionaries who were caught visiting the Ooni of Ife without permission have been banished from the Oba Palace in Benin City, Edo State.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, he named the individuals as Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre (Ihogbe), S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesoghoba (Ogbelaka), and two other Ogbelaka functionaries, Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame. According to the statement, they had falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare Il, CFR, Oba of Benin, in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II) palace.
The statement also mentioned that they provided an inaccurate and disjointed account of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooni-ship of Ife at Ooni of Ife’s Palace in Osun State recently.
The functionaries admitted before a Committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, that they erred against Benin Customs. The Uwangue of Benin, who described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish Benin Kingdom, pronounced their suspension.
As a result, they were also stripped off Benin Royal beads, recognition as Palace functionaries, and their traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.
The suspended palace functionaries were also barred from parading themselves as Benin Palace functionaries and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin. They were escorted out of the Palace by Chiefs, including Ewaise (traditional seers), and with occipital horns invoked ancestral spirits to bear witness.
