A group of persons from Abudu led by Pa. Billy Ekhator, the Ozukpogieva of Abudu has appealed to Oba Ewuare II to remove Pa. Sunday Izekor as the Odionwere of Abudu, stating that he has allegedly been convicted of rape adding that has effectively disqualified him from holding the position.
The group stated this while protesting to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Thursday, 18 June.
In a statement signed by the Ozukpogieva, Pa. Billy Ehigiator Ozukpogieva, Pa. Samuel Osakue, Amen Osula , Pa. Ogbeiwi Osili and 61 others, stated that Pa Ehigiator who has been acting as the Odionwere since the initiation of the alleged trial of Pa. Izekor for rape has been doing well, adding that a copy of the judgement of court where he was allegedly convicted was attached to the statement.
According to the statement, “We, concerned elders on behalf of the Indigenes of Abudu Village in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, wish to inform Your Royal Majesty of the sinister motive by some group of people led by the convicted former Odionwere of Abudu village to cause havoc and breakdown of law and order in our ever peaceful village.
“Your Royal Majesty, sometime in the year 2020, Pa Sunday Izekor was accused of raping a 14 years old Miss Gift Osula. He was prosecuted and on 5th May, 2025, eventually sentenced to 5 years imprisonment with option of fine of N250,000 (Two hundred and fifty thousand naira) only. Copy of the judgment is herewith attached.
“We wish to inform the Palace that since Your Royal Majesty delegated Pa. Billy Ehigiator and elders of Abudu few years ago to administer Abudu village in trust for the Oba, Abudu village, has witnessed tremendous progress and peace.
“We the elders and people of Abudu village are using this medium to inform your Royal Majesty that we do not want Pa. Sunday Izekor. He has committed heinous crime and an abominable one at that. If he is allowed to administer Abudu for your Royal Majesty, he will commit further atrocities as he is no longer trusted. We are alse aware that Pa. Sunday Izekor and his cohorts are enemies of the Palace having secretly been working in alliance with the former Enogie of Abudu village that was removed by the Palace. Evidence to buttress is available in the flash drive herein attached.
“Your Royal Malesty, arising from the foregoing, we are afraid that if Pa. lzekor Sunday still remains as Odionwere of Abudu village, God forbids!, Abudu village is likely to incur unending calamity, breakdown of law and order as well as unending peace.
“We therefore plead with the Omo N’Oba to look into our appeal with a view to preventing Pa. Sunday Izekor from further continuing as our Odionwere. He Is an “Oghion Oba (enemy of the Oba). Someone who has been convicted of a criminal offence such as Rape is not capable of piloting the affairs of Abudu in trust for the Omo N’Oba.
“We humbly plead for the confirmation and approval for PA. BILLY EHIGIATOR as our Odionwere”.
Efforts to reach Pa. Izekor for his reaction failed. However, a source close to him from Abudu who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said it was a lie, pointing out that the fact that they alleged Pa. Izekor was convicted of rape and sentenced to five years imprisonment underscores the fact that they were parading lies and half truths, adding that everyone knows that the prison sentence for conviction in rape cases is life jail term.
Newscurve24 also noticed that the copy of the court judgment the Billy Ekhator group said was attached to the statement they circulated to newsmen during the protest was not there as said in the statement.
Newscurve24 will still reach out to Pa. Sunday Izekor to get his side of the story.