Elders and Other Leaders of ITE Village in Ovia North East Local Government of Edo State say a former Okaeghele or Ypuyh Leader of the Community who has been removed from the Office stands removed.

A Statement by the Okao of ITE Village Chief Wilfred Oviasuyi warns the General Public that anybody, organization, groups, Religious organizations, Persons or Individuals, private Estate Developers, corporative societies who transact any land business with the suspended and removed Okaeghele and his accomplices with respect to ITE Communal lands, does so at their own risk.

The Statement adds that ITE Village or any of its indigenes, leaders and the OKAO would not bear any liability for lands illegally acquired from the former Okaeghele nor take any steps to validate such illegally acquired land.

According to the Statement the Okao of ITE Village being the overall traditional authority in ITE Village and Loyal and subject to his Royal Majesty Omo N’Oba N’Edo UkuAkpolokpolo Oba Ewuare the Second reaffirms that the former okeaghele has no power or authority to sell any portion or inch of ITE Communal lands nor mortgage same either in law or under Benin Native Law and Customs.

The Okao restated that for clarity’s sake, that an Okaeghele do not have any right whatsoever to alienate, transfer, assign or deal in any manner whatsoever with communal lands, while the only persons authorized to sell communal lands are the Okao of ITE alongside with his Elders and other Persons including members who are signatory to the Council of Elders and OKAO in Council as well as the ITE Village Plot allotment committee.

The Okao of ITE Village being the overall traditional authority announced that a new Okeaghele Mr Monday Osaherunmwen omele has been appointed to replace the former.

The public announcement also serves as an official notice to the police, DSS and other security agencies operating in Benin City, Edo state.

As at the time of this report, attempts to obtain reactions from the removed Okaeghele were not successful.