A prominent Edo indigene, Dr Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, has announced plans to seek legal redress over what he described as his public abduction, violent assault and unlawful detention in Benin City on December 28, 2025.
Obaseki made this known in a press statement on Sunday to Naijaonpoint, saying the decision followed extensive consultations with his wife and children, members of the Obaseki family and clan, senior legal advisers and respected elders.
He said the move was not driven by revenge or political considerations but by the need for accountability, deterrence and the protection of human dignity.
According to the statement, Obaseki was forcibly seized by armed men in a brazen daytime operation, which he said was designed to instil fear beyond the immediate victim.
He alleged 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 by his attackers.
Obaseki further stated that he was detained for several hours without any disclosed allegation or lawful charge, despite sustaining injuries during the incident.
He described the episode as a grave violation of his fundamental rights and said the acts amounted to terrorism-related violence under Nigerian law, citing the use of armed force, threats to life, public humiliation and intimidation.
Obaseki disclosed that during the incident, his abductors claimed they were acting on the instructions of the Oba of Benin or the Oba’s Palace.
However, he confirmed that the Benin Traditional Council had formally and publicly refuted the claim, issuing a letter categorically denying any involvement, authorisation or prior knowledge of the incident.
He said he welcomed the clarification and accepted it as the official position of the Palace, noting that it now forms part of the public record.
The Edo indigene stressed that the legal action would be directed strictly at the individual perpetrators and any persons who may be found, through due process, to have aided, facilitated or enabled the acts.
These include individuals who may have acted through impersonation of authority, abuse of office or omission, he said.
To pursue the matter, Obaseki said he had engaged renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, as lead counsel.
He added that both civil and criminal proceedings would be pursued concurrently, in line with Nigerian and international law, while respecting the presumption of innocence.
Given the gravity of the allegations and their implications for public safety and the rule of law, Obaseki said he had also notified international human rights organisations and partners.
According to him, the move is intended to ensure independent oversight, transparency and proper monitoring of investigations and judicial proceedings, in line with Nigeria’s constitutional obligations and international commitments.
Obaseki said the action was taken not only to restore his personal dignity and protect his family, but also to send a clear message that no individual or group has the right to abduct, brutalise or publicly dehumanise any citizen outside the law.
He added that he would refrain from making further factual or evidentiary comments in view of ongoing investigations and impending court proceedings.