Court remands Benin traditional council secretary over ‘illegal demolition of 80 houses’

An Edo state high court sitting in Benin has remanded Frank Irabor, secretary to the Benin traditional council, and other chiefs in prison custody over their alleged involvement in the demolition of over 80 houses in Ulegun community.

The accused persons were brought to court on Thursday after they were arrested by the Edo state police command on Wednesday.

The police had arrested and charged the defendants to court following several demonstrations by members of the community over the alleged illegal destruction of their property in Ikpoba-Okha LGA of the state.

The properties were said to be worth millions of naira, and there were also allegations of intimidation, harassment, and disregard for the law.

Aside from the demolition of properties, residents of the community, during a protest on Monday, alleged the detention of Sunday Omoregie, village head, and the community’s chief priest, Philip Uwuoroya.

Land developers, community leaders, and residents were among the demonstrators who marched to the government house in Edo, where they pleaded with the state government to “save them from tormentors”.

The community accused Irabor and his allies of rendering residents homeless and causing them pain and suffering.

They also expressed concern that the state may soon enter a crisis if nothing is done to address the situation.

At the court session on Thursday, Mary Itsueli, the presiding judge, ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Oko maximum prison pending receipt of legal advice by the director of public prosecution.

See photos below.