Two suspended Enigie (Dukes) in Benin Kingdom, Professor Gregory Akenzua and Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen have approached an Edo State High Court sitting in Benin seeking an order to nullify their suspension from office by Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II.
In a class action lodged by the suspended Dukes (Engine), they are urging the court to declare that except the Edo State government, nobody including the monarch has the powers to sack them.
In the suit marked B/250os/2023, they claimed that their appointment as traditional chiefs enjoys recognition by the Edo State Government and that they were duly registered under Section 25(2) of the Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law.
They also relied on Section 28 of the same Traditional Rulers and Chieftaincy Law to state that only the State Executive Council may sanction them if they were found wanting; noting that the Oba has no right to usurp the powers conferred by law on the State Executive Council.
Besides, the Benin Chiefs denied any wrongdoing exercising their right to freedom of speech by writing a letter to the governor of the state along with 94 of their fellow Enigie in 2022, in which they called on the governor to exercise a power conferred on him by law which they believe will lead to more rapid development to the rural areas of the state, particularly Edo South Senatorial District.
However, the member representing Ovia Federal Constituency and the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dennis Idahosa has condemned the action and appealed to the Bini to remain calm and composed and not allow their emotions to be exploited by those he claimed have “ulterior motives.”
In a statement personally signed by him, Idahosa pointed out that the people undermining the Oba and the Benin Kingdom have tried and failed in their previous attempts and now they have resorted using some Enigie.
According to him, “History will never be allowed to repeat itself and as such, we must do all that is necessary, including guiding our utterances to avoid the pitfalls that they, the enemies have set against the Palace.
“They have used other routes without achieving success in their quest to undermine our revered monarch; now, they have set some of the Dukes against the Palace.
“Like I have always maintained and still do, they will not only fail on this court matter, they will run out of what to do to undermine the Benin kingdom”, pledging to support and respect the traditional institution if the party wins the September 21 poll
