By Patrick Ahanor
Benin City
Two palace chiefs in Benin Kingdom, Edo state are trading words over a parcel of land housing a shrine in Ohovbe community Ikpoba-Okhha local government area.
The royal fathers are Chief Joseph Igbinenikaro Amadasun and Chief Osamwenyobo Amadasun, both of whom are cousins.
Osamwenyobo had raised alarm to the effect that his cousin, Igbinenikaro allegedly attempt to assassinate him “for daring to erect a storey building on his inherited family land.”
The royal father had claimed that one of the labourers he engaged to assist him in moving into his House was shot on the chest while he narrowly escaped death.
However, Ibinenikaro, who is also a chief priest to Oba Ewuare II denied his cousin’s allegations, adding that the latter “is using his position as Central Bank of Nigeria manager to harass us with policemen.”
While pointing to his brother’s two-storey, Igbinenikaro said: “when he was building the house, nobody stopped him. So, why will he be harassed now?
“Moreso, this is a man who has two mobile police escorts. So, is it possible to shoot at him in the presence of his security escorts?
“What happened was that he tried to harness the land; house our shrine to his compound and I objected because I am the custodian of the shrine which I hold in trust for our revered Oba.
“So, having failed in his plot, he brought policemen to our House and told them that we tried to assassinate him.
“As we speak, this matter and all his acts of misdeed are before the Oba of Benin and he has refused to honour invitations from the Oba’s palace.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor said the matter was reported December 22, 2017, adding that “the command had stepped up investigation.”
