The Edo State House of Assembly has summoned the Commissioner of Police, Mr Monday Agbonika, to appear before lawmakers on Tuesday at 1 p.m. to explain the arrest of a traditional ruler from Ikpeshi within the Assembly premises.
The invitation follows concerns raised during Monday’s plenary over the arrest, which occurred despite the monarch being formally invited by the House for peace talks concerning ongoing leadership and revenue disputes in Ikpeshi.
The factions involved in the Ikpeshi crisis had earlier met with lawmakers on 18 June, where they were directed to maintain peace and suspend further actions pending resolution of the dispute.
Raising a matter of urgent public importance, Majority Leader Jonathan Aigbokhan described the monarch’s arrest on Assembly grounds as disrespectful. Several lawmakers echoed this view, demanding the traditional ruler’s immediate release and urging the police to respect legislative protocols.
Speaker Blessing Agbebaku condemned the incident as a “sacrilegious act” and a direct affront to the Assembly. “We are not disputing the police’s authority to arrest, but not within the Assembly complex, and certainly not someone we formally invited for dialogue,” he said.
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Agbebaku noted that the member representing Akoko-Edo II, Donald Okogbe, had raised the issue, prompting the immediate convening of a meeting with the Ikpeshi factions. He stressed that if the arrest had been necessary, it should have taken place in Ikpeshi, not within the legislature.
The Speaker ordered the traditional ruler’s immediate release to enable his participation in the House’s investigation of the Ikpeshi crisis.
Meanwhile, the House confirmed the appointment of Ms Sonia Ebanehita as Chairperson of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), following a successful screening by the Committee on Rules and Business.
Also on Monday, the Speaker addressed protesting youths from Oghede community and promised to set up a committee to investigate alleged land encroachment and demolition by the Nigerian Army.
In another development, the House adopted a motion moved by Mr Richard Edosa (APC–Oredo West), calling on the state government and the police to urgently address rising incidents of police brutality. The motion also urged the Commissioner of Police to conduct human rights training for officers in the state.
