Edo monarch demands N20bn damages from subjects over allegations of embezzlement of community’s funds, EFCC arrest

Michael Sado, the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo has demanded the sum of N20billion as compensation from his subjects that sponsored the media reports on his purported arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Sado disclosed this during a media chat in Benin City while refuting the purported arrest by operatives of the anti-graft agency.

BusinessDay recalls that social medium and some sections of the press were last week awash with stories about the arrest and detention of the traditional ruler and one Patrick Omkhagbo by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The arrest and detention were said to be a result of a petition by the Ukhomuyo Council of Village Heads through their counsel A. O. Osagie & Associates.

The petitioners accused the traditional ruler of converting the entire Ukhomuyio community into his personal estate by allegedly collecting huge sums running into about N250 million due to the community from the natural resources in the area into his personal account.

Reacting at a press conference, the traditional ruler while describing the allegations as false, however, demanded an unreserved apology from all concerned as well as the sum of N20 billion compensation from each of the parties allegedly involved in the said unprecedented embarrassment.

He disclosed that the Okpella Traditional Council has threatened court action against those behind the allegations if they failed to tender unreserved apology.

The petition dated March 13, 2026, is titled, ‘Damage to our reputation, resulting in bodily injury and psychological torture to members of the Okpella community’.

The petition written by Principal Partner, Lucky D, Almafumeh & Co, Aimofumeh Law House was signed by the most senior Village Heads of the ruling house of the kingdom.

In the petition, the traditional council described the publications of the alleged arrest of the traditional ruler and the embezzlement of the N250million community’s fund as disgusting and damaging to the image of the community.

They demanded an unreserved apology from all concerned as well as the sum of N20 billion compensation from each of the parties allegedly involved in the said unprecedented embarrassment.

The council said that failure to meet the demands would compel it to proceed to court without any further communications.

He added that the allegations of embezzlement and the arrest by the anti-graft agency were the handiwork of greedy subjects of the community who are bent on tarnishing his image as well as that of the Okpella kingdom.

Sado also alleged that mischief makers are those who failed to embrace the new order that community funds must be used purposely for the benefit of all indigenes instead of a few.

He stated that his presence at the Benin zonal office of EFCC was in respect of an invitation by the commission over the alleged petition.

He added that he was never arrested nor detained by the agency, but, he was, however, shocked to see the news on different social media and newspaper platforms of his arrest.

While assuring that the economic and social developments of Okpella were his major priority, he, however, vowed that the old order, in which the community’s funds are being shared by a few has gone.

He explained that Okpella, which is host to the richest man in Africa’s company, the Dangote Cement, also one of the richest men in Nigeria and Africa, Abdul Samad, BUA cement and several others cannot be seen as a poor and backward community in terms of development.

He opined that if his purpose of being a traditional ruler is to make wealth for himself, he knew how to go about it, adding that it was a minus on his personality as a self-made man to embezzle community funds.

Sado, also, alleged that those behind the allegations are greedy individuals who never wanted him to be the traditional ruler of the community.

He lamented that the community which is one of the hens that lay the golden egg in Nigeria cannot boast of good roads, regular power supply, a hospital, and several other social amenities.

The Okpella traditional ruler said within the seven months of his kingship, several projects running into several billions of naira have been initiated, and awarded while discussions on others are ongoing.

He listed some of the projects to include the construction of Okpella Police Area Command, magistrates’ and customary court buildings as well as judges’ quarters, establishment of an ICT centre for JAMB CBT centre, and upgrading of infrastructure in one of the secondary schools.

Others are designed for a multi-billion-naira hospital, ongoing 5 kilometres of road, recruitment and monthly payment for about 400 security personnel, proposal for the establishment of Okpella Microfinance Bank, scholarship to indigene students for undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the tertiary institutions, establishment of skills acquisition centres, among others.