A State High Court sitting in Benin City has remanded seven persons including the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor in Oko prison for the demolition of some houses in Ulegun Community of Edo State.
The matter was brought up before the Benin Criminal Division in a case filed by the State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro.
The indigenes of Ulegun Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State came out in their numbers to protest against the demolition of their houses.
They pointed accusing fingers at an official of the Palace who said the land upon which the houses were built belonged to the Palace.
The matter has now been brought before the law.
Justice Mary Itsueli heard the motion exparte of remand proceedings brought before the State High Court against seven persons including the Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor by the State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro.
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Justice Itsueli noted that a six count charge was entered against them and they bordered on felony to wit: forcefully taking over land in Ulegun and promotion of inter communal war.
The judge says the decision of the defendants to willfully and unlawfully demolish over sixty houses belonging to different individuals amounted to malicious damage punishable by law.
She thus ordered their remand until September 15th 2022 pending the rendering of legal advice on the case from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, in the State Ministry of Justice.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
