I didn’t order manhandling of man sent out of palace – Oba of Benin

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, has ordered
an investigation into the alleged manhandling of an elderly man who
was sent out of the palace for violating the Benin tradition.

The man, suspected to be of Benin origin, had last Thursday been
reportedly chased out of the palace for allegedly failing to kneel
before the monarch in obeisance and in line with the Benin
custom.

The incident was said to have occurred during the weekly peace
mediation by the Oba.

A video of the man being chased out of the premises half-naked
by some palace officials had gone viral with some online media
identifying him as a Benin Chief who was banished.

But the Oba, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mr. Desmond Agbama, on Thursday, dismissed the claim that the man
was a Benin chief.

He also said that though the elderly man was found with
“abominable objects,” he (Oba) never ordered him to be
manhandled.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the man in question is not a chief
in Benin Kingdom as has been ascribed to him.

“The man came to the palace in the company of those who had
issues to resolve at the palace but he violated the norms of the
Benin custom and tradition and was found carrying on his person
abominable objects forbidden by Benin custom and tradition,” the
statement read in part.

It added, “At no time did the Oba order the man to be
manhandled.

“The persons who escorted the man out of the palace may have
over-reached themselves in their efforts to protect the tradition
and culture of the Benin people and the sanctity of the palace.
However, the Oba of Benin has ordered a full investigation into the
incident.”

The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, has ordered
an investigation into the alleged manhandling of an elderly man who
was sent out of the palace for violating the Benin
tradition.

The man, suspected to be of Benin origin, had last Thursday been
reportedly chased out of the palace for allegedly failing to kneel
before the monarch in obeisance and in line with the Benin
custom.

The incident was said to have occurred during the weekly peace
mediation by the Oba.

A video of the man being chased out of the premises half-naked
by some palace officials had gone viral with some online media
identifying him as a Benin Chief who was banished.

But the Oba, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary,
Mr. Desmond Agbama, on Thursday, dismissed the claim that the man
was a Benin chief.

He also said that though the elderly man was found with
“abominable objects,” he (Oba) never ordered him to be
manhandled.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the man in question is not a chief
in Benin Kingdom as has been ascribed to him.

“The man came to the palace in the company of those who had
issues to resolve at the palace but he violated the norms of the
Benin custom and tradition and was found carrying on his person
abominable objects forbidden by Benin custom and tradition,” the
statement read in part.

It added, “At no time did the Oba order the man to be
manhandled.

“The persons who escorted the man out of the palace may have
over-reached themselves in their efforts to protect the tradition
and culture of the Benin people and the sanctity of the palace.
However, the Oba of Benin has ordered a full investigation into the
incident.”