British High Commissioner To Hand Over Stolen Bronze To Benin Monarch

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government is set to return some of the stolen Artefacts from Benin to its original owners.

An event has been slated for next week in Benin city, Edo state, during which recovered Artefacts from Britain will be handed over to their original owners.

The process of recovering and returning the Artefacts has been thorny issue between Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin, Ewuare 11.

Governor Obaseki was reported to have hired a private consultant to take charge of the processes, an action which the monarch kicked against.

In a letter dated 3rd December, 2021, and signed by the secretary to the Oba of Benin, Mr  Frank Irabor disclosed that President Mohamadu Buhari has approved the return of some of the Artefacts directly to Benin monarch.

The letter, which reference BTCA40/volLVV/38, stated that two Bronzes already returned by two foreign institutions are to be handed over to the Benin monarch.

“In the name of God and Royal ancestors, the Benin Traditional Council on behalf of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’oba Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare 11, Oba of Benin, wishes to inform the general public that His Excellency, President Mohamadu Buhari has graciously directed Nigeria High Commissioner to Britain to commence the return of the Artefacts looted from the palace of Oba of Benin in 1897 by the British government.

“The British High Commissioner will personally return the two Benin Bronzes recently handed over by Jesus College, Cambridge in Britain and University of Aberdeen in Scotland to His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin.

“This very unique auspicious occassion would take place on Monday, 13th December, 2021, at 11 am in Oba of Benin palace.

“Furthermore, this very traditional and royal event will also be an occassion to mark the celebration of the fifth coronation anniversary of the Oba which should have come up earlier in October, but postponed.

“The general public is hereby invited to join the Oba in receiving the Benin Bronze cast of Okpa Cockerel and Benin Bronze burst of an Oba.

“The Oba of Benin and good people of Edo state thank Mr President for this directive.

“This further shows that the federal government is the only constitutional authority to receive in custody Benin Bronzes and other Artefacts before being sent to their original owners, the Oba of Benin.”