Chief Nosakhare Isekhure, the Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom who was suspended recently has finally opened up on allegations levelled against him by the Benin Traditional Council that he boasted that the Enwinekhua (funeral rites of Oba Erediauwa) and subsequent coronation of Oba Ewuare II could not hold without him.

In a statement through the Ihogbe N’ Ore family signed by its spokesman, Mr. Osagbakhoe Ogbemudia, he denied the allegations: “Chief Isekhure is a lover of Benin tradition and custom. How on earth will somebody after getting judgement in the Palace where such a person did not pay a dime would turn to Chief Isekhure for another round of justices where such a person would be forced to pay gratification?”

“This is a case of giving a bad name to a dog so that one can have reason to hang such dog. To this end, we demand to see and verify the people that Chief Isekhure demanded money from so that members of the public will be convinced”.

“The rites started as far back as 1255AD during the reign of Oba Ewedo and such visits were accompanied with eight kolanuts, a bottle of hot drink and 13 Shillings and 6 pence now about N2,000. Other shrine/places visited by new Chiefs according to the statement are Ogbelaka shrine, Ekpenede 1 & 11, Uhuoba shrine, Iyase N’Ohenmwen shrine amongst others.”