A cousin of former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Don-Pedro Obaseki, has announced his decision to seek judicial redress over an incident he described as a violent and degrading assault in Benin City.
He said the step followed wide consultations with his immediate family, extended relatives, senior legal advisers and respected elders, and was taken after careful reflection.
Obaseki explained that the decision was not motivated by vengeance or political considerations, but by the need to uphold accountability, deter future abuses and defend the dignity of the human person.
He maintained that the rule of law must prevail, especially in situations where citizens are allegedly subjected to public humiliation and force outside any known legal process.
According to his account, he was accosted in public by armed men, forcibly stripped and taken away in what he described as a daylight operation designed to instil fear. He alleged that the incident occurred while he was at a public space and that a video of the episode later circulated widely, deepening the personal and social impact of the experience.
He further stated that he was taken to a traditional institution and detained for several hours without any formal allegation or lawful charge, despite sustaining injuries.
Obaseki described the episode as a grave violation of his fundamental rights and argued that the conduct complained of meets the legal threshold for serious offences under Nigerian law, Obaseki said his action is intended not only to restore his dignity and protect his family, but to affirm, in faith and conscience, that no individual or group is above the law and that justice remains a pillar for peace in society.
