The storm surrounding an alleged N60 million bribery scandal rocking the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) took a new turn yesterday, as Evans Obasuyi Osazee, one of the principal figures accused in the saga, firmly denied any involvement and warned of looming legal action against those behind the claims.
A statement made available to journalists on Wednesday revealed that Evans, whose name has been repeatedly mentioned alongside that of the Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor, described the allegations as a calculated attempt to tarnish his image and destabilize the BTC.
The accusations, originally circulated by an individual using the alias Sungley Xaint Dazi and other unnamed online proxies, claimed that Evans and Irabor collected N60 million from the deposed Ohen of Okhoromi community to suppress a press statement intended to expose controversial matters within the community.
Reacting swiftly, Evans Osazee Osazee said: “I completely deny these baseless allegations. There is no truth to the claims suggesting that myself or anyone in my capacity received such money or engaged in any deal of that nature.”
He went further to challenge the accusers to publicly provide concrete, verifiable evidence within seven days or be prepared to face the full weight of the law. “If no evidence is produced within the stipulated time, we shall proceed with legal actions against all parties peddling these defamatory lies,” he stated.
While Frank Irabor also issued a separate statement distancing himself from the allegations, observers note that Evans has now become the central figure targeted in what insiders describe as a deliberate smear campaign aimed at discrediting key personalities within the Benin Traditional Council.
Evans, in his statement, decried the trend of anonymous social media accounts being weaponized to destroy reputations and called on security and regulatory agencies to trace and prosecute those behind the malicious claims.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the Benin Traditional Council, vowing to defend his name and integrity through all legitimate means. “My record of service stands unblemished, and no faceless detractor will succeed in pulling me down through cowardly social media attacks,” Evans declared.
As the controversy simmers, stakeholders have called for a thorough, independent investigation to ascertain the facts and punish anyone found guilty of attempting to destabilize the council for personal or political motives.
