In a decisive move to uphold the sanctity of Benin customs and traditions, Oba Ewuare II, the revered Oba of Benin, on Thursday formally removed Ovbokhan Igbinovia from his position as the Chief Priest (Ohen) of Okhuoromi Community, situated in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State.
The monarch’s decision followed a thorough review of reports implicating Igbinovia in a series of egregious acts, including the usurpation of communal lands, extortion, and the unauthorized demolition of private properties—actions deemed not only unlawful but also grossly offensive to the revered customs of the Benin Kingdom.
The announcement of the deposition was conveyed to the leadership and elders of Okhuoromi by Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, who represented the palace during a meeting convened to address the grievances. The community’s Odionwere (village head), Pa Oghagbon Edosomwan, has been instructed to assume interim oversight of the community’s affairs, serving as the monarch’s direct emissary until further directives are issued.
The palace reaffirmed its zero tolerance for practices that undermine communal harmony, violate traditional protocols, or exploit vulnerable members of the society under the guise of customary authority.
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Idah, with other Palace Chiefs, Isaac Oyeoba (Oyeoba of Benin) and Chief Uyi Okungbowa (Ogua of Benin), addressed the Okhuoromi elders and victims of land grabbing and property demolition in the Oba Palace in Benin.
Chief Osaro Idah, the Obazelu of Benin, further emphasized the gravity of the palace’s ruling, warning that any individual or group found violating the royal directive would not only face the full weight of the law but also the ire of the ancestors.
Oba Ewuare II, distancing the revered Benin throne from the alleged acts of lawlessness and desecration attributed to the deposed Ohen, reaffirmed that the palace would not condone criminality or abuses carried out under the cover of traditional authority.
In an appeal for calm, the monarch urged the residents of Okhuoromi to maintain peace and refrain from any retaliatory actions, assuring them that justice would prevail.
Oba Ewuare pledged that all victims of land grabbing, extortion, and other transgressions reportedly orchestrated by the former Chief Priest and his associates would receive redress. To that end, palace chiefs have been tasked to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the damages inflicted upon the community.
The monarch further called on all affected individuals or those in possession of credible information regarding the illicit activities to present their complaints, accompanied by pictorial or video documentation, to the designated authorities for due consideration.