Mr Hopkin Agbebor, son of a former member of the House of Representatives, late Chief Sunny Agbebor, has urged members of the public to disregard a purported burial ceremony of his late father, describing such burial arrangements as a charade.
A public notice by his lawyer, Jefferson Uwoghiren, Esq. said by the customs and tradition of Benin, it is Hopkin, being the first son of the deceased that solely has the right to lead other members of the family of deceased to carry out such burials and not any other person.
The statement reads: “The General Public is hereby informed to disregard the social event organized by one Mrs. Vero Aguebor and friends recently, purporting to be the burial ceremony of late Chief Sunny Aguebor, as the First Son and family members of the late Chief Aguebor, were not aware, involved, nor participated in the social event, as required under Benin Customary Law.”
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Its added: “The General Public is hereby notified and informed that under Benin Customary Law, it is the eldest surviving son of a deceased Benin man that leads his siblings to perform funeral rites and not his wife, no matter how wealthy or influential. The social event organized on the 27th July, 2023 and 28th July, 2023, is a sacrilegious breach of Benin Customs and Laws.
“Mr. Hopkin Aguebor, the eldest son of late Hon. Chief Sunny Aguebor, on behalf of his siblings and Aguebor Family, is by this notice informing the General Public, that a date for the burial of late Hon. Chief Sunny Aguebor, will soon be announced, after proper consultation with all that appeared concerned.”