Dr. Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki, a prominent Edo indigene, has announced his decision to seek justice through the courts following what he described as a brutal public abduction, violent assault, and extra-judicial humiliation in Benin City on December 28, 2025.
In a press statement, Dr. Obaseki said the move followed consultations with his wife, children, family members, senior legal advisers, and respected elders. He emphasized that the decision is not driven by revenge or political motives but by the need for accountability, deterrence, and the protection of human dignity.
According to Dr. Obaseki, he was forcibly seized in broad daylight by armed men in an operation aimed at instilling fear in the wider public. He was reportedly beaten, stripped naked, threatened with death, and paraded along major roads in Benin City while the ordeal was filmed and live-streamed by his attackers. He was later detained for several hours without any lawful charge, sustaining injuries in the process.
Describing the incident as a serious violation of his fundamental rights, Dr. Obaseki said it amounted to terrorism-related violence under Nigerian law, given the use of armed force, explicit threats to life, public intimidation, and the deliberate creation of fear beyond the immediate victim.
His abductors allegedly claimed they acted on instructions from the Oba of Benin or the Oba’s Palace. The Benin Traditional Council has formally refuted this claim, issuing a public letter denying any involvement or prior knowledge. Dr. Obaseki welcomed this clarification as the official position of the Palace.
Legal actions now underway target the individual perpetrators and anyone found, through due process, to have facilitated or enabled the crimes, whether by direct action, impersonation, abuse of office, or omission. He has engaged renowned human-rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, to lead civil and criminal proceedings concurrently under 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, Dr. Obaseki has also formally notified international human-rights bodies to ensure independent oversight and transparency in the investigations.
Dr. Obaseki said the action is intended not only to restore his dignity and protect his family but also to send a clear message that no individual or group has the right to abduct, brutalize, or publicly dehumanize any citizen outside the law. He declined further comments on the facts or evidence at this stage, out of respect for ongoing investigations and court proceedings.
