Igue Festival: Court Restrains Uwaifo from Unauthorized Use of Oba Ewuare’s Name for Promotion

A Benin High Court has restrained one Omorodion Uwaifo and his Association for Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) from the unauthorized continued “use of the image, picture, video, signature of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare Il CFR, to advertise, market, propagate, or promote the staging of any play tagged IGUE.”

The development was made known in a place release by Mr. Osaigbovo lguobaro, Chief Press Secretary to the Oba of Benin.

The statement reads: “The dramatization of lgue festival by this association was disclosed few days ago by one Omorodion Uwaifo.

“It has come to the attention of the Palace of the Oba of Benin that agroup of persons going by the name the Association For Cultural and Economic Renaissance of Edo (ACERE) is planning to stage/dramatise the performance of lgue Festival at Muson Centre, Onikanin Lagos without consultation and consent of His Royal Majesty, OmoN’Oba N’Edo,Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare Il, CFR, Oba of Benin, who is the custodian of Benin customs and tradition. The Palace of the Oba of Benin has serious reservation about the proposed drama.

“He has fraudulently gone ahead to use Omo N’Oba NEdo,Uku Akpolokpolo’s picture in the social media to publicize their so-called dramatization and staging of lgue festival in Muson Centre, Lagos State; in contrast to the cultural, religious and spiritual implications and relevance of the festival to the Palace and Benin people.

“In order for Uwaifo and his group not to distort our age-long customand traditional performance of lgue festival by the Oba of Benin, the Benin Traditional Councll has approached the court to restrain this association from staging the so-called ‘performance.’ The Court in its wisdom and as a result of the short notice, has granted the prayers of the Benin Traditional Council.

“The Court ruled that by virtue of Order 42 Rule 8 ofthe High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, the court has restrained the Defendant/Respondent from repeating the use or continuing to deploy or use the image, picture, video, signature of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare Il CFR, to advertise, market, propagate, or promote the staging of any play tagged IGUE – the Annual Thanksgiving Festival of Benin Kingdom, without his consent, pending compliance with pre-action Protocol.

“This order was made today, Friday, 22nd November, 2024 against the event that is taking place on Sunday, 24th November, 2024.

The general public is advised not to be misled by any group of people claiming to be promoting Benin culture when they are not in consultation with the Palace of the Oba of Benin.