The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has sanctioned palace queen, chiefs and other staff over unauthorised access to social media influencer, Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja, popularly known as Peller, to the palace.
The Benin Traditional Council in a statement by its secretary, Frank Irabor, attributed the sanction to breach of protocol and desecration of the sacred precincts of the palace, which occurred on March 6, 2026.
According to the statement, a palace staff member, identified as Mr Omuemu, has been detained by the Nigeria Police Force and would be charged in court for allegedly causing a breach of the peace and abetting the unauthorised entry.
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It added that a chief who was implicated in the incident has been suspended indefinitely from the palace.
It explained that the palace queen, featured in the incident, is now facing serious disciplinary proceedings in accordance with Benin traditions and customs.
He said the proceedings may inadvertently result in her removal from the palace.
The statement said, “Mr Adelaja and his entourage entered the palace without the requisite permission from the council, and their subsequent conduct caused significant embarrassment and a breach of the peace within the palace grounds.
“The Benin Traditional Council views this incident with the utmost gravity. The Palace is not a public thoroughfare or a location for frivolous content creation, it is the ancient and spiritual seat of the Oba of Benin, governed by centuries of tradition, custom, and sacred protocols,” he said.
It said following the incident, the council extended an invitation to Peller, requesting that he appear before a committee of chiefs tasked with investigating the matter to provide his own side of the story, but failed to honour the invitation.
He stated that his unapproved visit had caused untold distress to so many people, and as such, he must tender an unreserved written apology to the palace for his unauthorised access and the embarrassment caused.
The traditional council said failure to comply with the directive will leave the council with no option but to pursue legal action.
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