The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has barred the six suspended palace functionaries who allegedly presented themselves as the palace’s emissaries before the Ooni of Ife at a function, from palace activities.
The Iyase of Benin, Chief Sam Igbe, announced the suspension of the six palace functionaries through a letter dated April 26 on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council.
In addition to the suspension, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin, declared trough a statement on Monday that the suspended functionaries have been barred from the palace.
The palace functionaries are: Johnbull Igbinosun, Iduhonre Ihogbe, S.E. Aigbiremwen, Efesieoghoba Ogbelaka,Ogbeide Osagie and Osamudiame.
According to Iguobaro, the self-serving traditional functionaries who engaged themselves in a sacrilegious show of shame and falsehood against the Benin custom have been banned from Oba Palace in Benin City, Edo State.
“These integrity-challenged individuals had falsely claimed to be emissaries of the Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, His Royal Majesty, Ewuare II, CFR, Oba of Benin, in the presence of the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ọjájá II, where they rendered inaccurate and disjointed account of the link between the Benin Royal Dynasty and the Ooniship of Ife at Ooni of Ife’s palace in Osun State, recently,” he said.
Iguobaro said the embattled palace functionaries admitted their offences before the committee led by Chief Ekhoerovbiye Oviasogie, the Uwangue of Benin, that they erred against Benin customs.
He added that the Uwangue of Benin-led committee, which described their action as a deliberate attempt to rubbish the Benin Kingdom, pronounced the suspension of the palace’s functionaries.
He said the functionaries have also been stripped of Benin royal beads, recognition as palace functionaries and traditional titles, which were handed over to the ancestors.
Iguobaro added that the suspended palace functionaries are also barred from parading themselves as Benin palace functionaries and stopped from participating in any traditional rites in Benin.