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Legal Practitioner Debunks Benin Chief’s Claim, Admits Ogiame Erejuwa II Placed Curse On Warri, Nigeria Govt

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A Warri based legal practitioner, Pa. Magnus Atie, has stated that there was actually a curse imposed by the Late Olu of Warri, His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Erejuwa II, and the former Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Akenzua II on Warri kingdom and the Nigeria Government during their reign.

The elder statesman and legal practitioner was an interpreter at the Justice Omosun Commission of Inquiry that brought Olu Erejuwa II back to the throne then.

He was reacting to an exclusive interview granted to TELL by the Esongba of Benin kingdom, Chief David Edebiri, debunking Atuwatse III claims and pronouncement on his coronation speech.

READ ALSO: Olu of Warri: Five Things To Know About Ogiame Atuwatse III

Chief Edebiri, in the exclusive interview with TELL, as reaction to the Olu of Warri’s speech, claimed that there was nothing like that because he was not aware of it.

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He said, “NO, Akenzua” cannot do that; not my Oba. I was almost like a political aide to Oba Akenzua II, so there is nothing like that. I didn’t hear about it, and I don’t know about it. Even when Oba Erejuwa II came to Benin sometime in the 1940’s when the Benins were at loggerheads with their Oba to come and plead with Benin people, I was a small boy but I was in the palace. I didn’t hear about any curse”

But Pa Atie stated that, as a young clerical officer in the ministry of Justice in Benin then, he was the interpreter at the commission set up to the Itsekiri witnesses like the late Ekpede Emiko and Mr Moju Igbene and others at the commission of inquiry who came to give evidence on the deposition to Ogbesse of the Warri Monarch.

He asserted, “At the time, Lt. Colonel David Ejoor was the Military Governor of Bendel State in the Mid-western region, and as a result of the petition to him by the monarch, Olu Erejuwa II, Lt Col Ejoor set up a commission of which I was the interpreter to look into the petition and, it is known as the Justice Omosun’s Commission of Enquiry to look into the case and make recommendation.”

According to Pa Atie, It was based on the recommendation that the Military Governor reinstated the monarch back to his throne contrary to the insinuation from some quarters that Ejoor did the Itsekiri a favour by reinstating the Mornach, Olu Erejuwa II.

In his words, “Confronted with the ordeal of Dethronement and exile, Erejuwa II cried to his Royal brother, Akenzua II and both discussed in their closet and took a decision and invoked a curse on Warri and Nigeria.”

While wondering why Chief Edebiri would expect the duo Royal brothers to divulge to him the content or outcome of their meeting, the elder statesman said, “he might blow it out of proportion and context,” even as he positioned that Edebiri was made chief only after the demise of Oba Akenzua II.

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Pa. Atie said, “The secretary of the judicial commission of inquiry was one Mr. Gbegbaje and that the report of the commission can be gotten from the Benin Archive.”

READ ALSO: I have Seen Three Olu Of Warri, I Don’t Want To See Fourth Coronation – Obasanjo

He said someone like Chief Osula, the Arala of Benin who was a Chief under Oba Akenzua II should be able to speak on the matter and not Edebiri

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Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

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Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

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However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

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Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

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Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

READ ALSO: ATMs To Be Upgraded For Loans Services As CBN Gives Banks Ultimatum…

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

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He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi, LP Must Pay N1.5million To Access Documents – INEC

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

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Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

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The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

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Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Ukraine: Horror As Russian Forces Shoot People Queuing For Bread

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

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The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.

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