Alleged Assault: Pedro Obaseki Heads to Court

Dr. Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, has announced plans to seek legal redress over what he described as his abduction, assault and public humiliation.

Obaseki said the incident occurred on December 28, 2025, at Uwa Primary School in Benin City, where he had gone to play football. He alleged that suspected thugs attacked him at the venue, dragged him away and took him to the palace of the Oba of Benin.

According to his account, he was forced to crawl before some chiefs arrived at the scene. A video of the incident, which later went viral, showed suspected assailants chanting “Oghion (enemy) Oba.”

In a statement, Obaseki said his decision to approach the courts followed extensive consultations with his wife and children, members of the Obaseki family and clan, senior legal advisers and respected elders. He stressed that the action was not motivated by revenge or politics, but by the need to ensure accountability, deter future abuses and uphold human dignity.

He alleged that he was forcibly seized in public by armed men in what he described as a brazen daylight operation intended to instil fear. He further claimed that he was beaten, stripped naked, threatened with death and paraded along major roads in Benin City, while the incident was recorded and live-streamed.

Obaseki described the episode as a serious violation of his fundamental rights, adding that the actions amounted to terrorism-related violence under Nigerian law, citing the alleged use of armed force, threats to life and public intimidation.

However, he acknowledged that the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has formally denied any involvement, authorisation or prior knowledge of the incident. He said the council’s position, conveyed in a widely publicised letter, had been noted and accepted as the official stance of the palace.

To pursue the matter, Obaseki disclosed that he has engaged renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who will serve as lead counsel. He said both civil and criminal proceedings would be initiated concurrently, in line with Nigerian and international law, and with full respect for the presumption of innocence.

Given the gravity of the allegations and their wider implications for public safety and the rule of law, Obaseki also confirmed that he has formally notified and is engaging relevant international human rights organisations and partners.