Alleged abduction: Obaseki, family move to court, retain Falana... Notifies int'l rights organisations

BENIN CITY — Dr Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, a prominent Edo indigene, has formally commenced steps to seek judicial redress over his alleged abduction, assault and public humiliation in Benin City on 28 December 2025, declaring that the action is guided by the demands of justice, accountability and respect for human dignity.

In a statement released on Sunday, Dr Obaseki said the decision followed wide-ranging consultations with his immediate family, members of the Obaseki family and clan, senior legal advisers and respected community elders.

He emphasised that the move was not borne out of vengeance or political considerations, but by the necessity to uphold the rule of law, deter future abuses and affirm the rights of citizens to safety and dignity.

According to him, he was forcibly taken in public by armed men in what he described as a daring daylight operation. 

He alleged that he was beaten, stripped naked, threatened with death and paraded along major roads in Benin City, while the incident was filmed and live-streamed by those involved.

Dr Obaseki further stated that he was held for several hours without any formal allegation or lawful charge, despite sustaining injuries in the course of the incident.

He described the episode as a serious breach of his fundamental rights and said the actions, by their nature and execution, met the threshold of terrorism-related offences under Nigerian law, citing the use of armed force, explicit threats to life and the deliberate spread of fear among the public.

He disclosed that his abductors claimed to be acting on the directives of the Oba of Benin or the Oba’s Palace. 

However, he noted that this claim has since been unequivocally denied by the Benin Traditional Council, which issued a public letter dissociating the Palace from the incident.

Dr Obaseki said he accepted the clarification as the official position of the Palace and acknowledged it as part of the public record.

He stressed that the legal actions now underway are targeted solely at the direct perpetrators and any individuals who may be found, through due legal process, to have aided, enabled or facilitated the alleged offences, whether by impersonation of authority, abuse of office or omission.

To prosecute the case, Dr Obaseki disclosed that he has engaged renowned human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, as lead counsel. 

He added that civil and criminal proceedings would be pursued simultaneously, in accordance with Nigerian and international legal standards, and with full respect for the presumption of innocence.

In view of the gravity of the allegations and their implications for public order and the justice system, Dr Obaseki also confirmed that international human rights organisations have been formally notified and are being engaged to ensure transparency and independent monitoring of investigations and court processes.

He said the action was intended not only to vindicate his personal rights and safeguard his family, but also to affirm the principle that no person or group is above the law or entitled to subject any citizen to unlawful detention or public degradation.

Dr Obaseki added that he would make no further public comments on the matter for now, in order not to prejudice ongoing investigations and anticipated court proceedings.