FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
The criminal charges preferred against the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), Mr Frank Irabor and six others by Edo State government has been withdrawn.
This followed the demolition of illegal property in Ulegun village, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the State in August 2022.
The State government had in August 2022, slammed 29-count charge against some Palace officials, including Mr Frank Irabor over the demolition of the disputed property.
Consequently, the Defendants were thereafter remanded in prison Custody by Justice Mary Itsueli of Edo State High Court.
At resumed hearing on Wednesday July 3, 2024, the State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP Orobosa Okunbor, Esq made the application to withdraw the case before Edo State High Court sitting Benin City.
He, told the Court that case was designed for peace and reconciliation by the government, which had paid adequate compensation to persons whose livelihood were impacted by the demolition.
The development was after Defendants in the suit, Mr Frank Irabor and others who were led in evidence by their Counsel, Olawola Afolabi, SAN, and Okuns Aihie, Esq, had pleaded not guilty to the 29-count change that were read to them in the Court.
In a swift reaction to the decision of the government, Mr Frank Irabor, thanked the State government and Governor Godwin Obaseki who deemed it fit and appropriate to withdraw the case.
He described the government intervention as a right step in the right direction towards peace and reconciliation.
Irabor on behalf of the Chief and other Palace functionaries, said we like to thank the Edo State government ably led by Governor Godwin Obaseki for deeming it fit and appropriate to withdraw this case that was filed against us.
“It’s the right step in the right direction”, he stated.
