Frank Irabor, the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), and six other people were remanded in prison custody on Thursday by a Benin High Court presided over by Justice Mary Itsueli for allegedly participating in illegal demolitions.
The defendants were charged with a six-count offence including the illegal demolition of buildings and the taking of land by force at Ulegun Village in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Abel Oko Oboh, Tuesday Atagamene, Okechukwu Okeke, Chief Oko-Oboh, Aghavbere Osawemwenguan, and Ode Ikoko were more participants.
According to the police's charge sheet, the accused was complicit in the illegal demolition of more than 60 homes in Ulegun village, totaling N500 million in value.
The charge read in part: That you did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Promoting Inter Communal War and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Forceful Take Over of Land and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the new Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That on Aug. 28, 2022, at Ulegun Community, in Benin City, in the Benin Criminal Division, you did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Malicious Damage and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
“That you did wilfully and unlawfully damage about 60 houses belonging to different persons at Ulegun Community, the value of properties amounting to about N500 million and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.
Moving an exparte application for the remand of the accused, Polycarp Odion, Legal Officer with the Nigeria Police told the court that the charge file had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
He urged the court to remand the accused in prison pending the advice, adding that the charges were grievous ones.
In her ruling, Justice Itsueli granted the application of the legal officer and adjourned the case to Sept. 15, 2022.