The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo, His Royal Highness, Michael Sado, has denied the alleged embezzlement of N250 million community funds and arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
DAILY POST reports that the traditional ruler, who spoke to newsmen on Monday in Benin City described the allegations of embezzlement and arrest by the anti-graft agency as the handiwork of greedy subjects of the community who are bent on tarnishing his image as well as that of the Okpella kingdom.
Sado said the mischief makers are those who failed to embrace the new order that community funds must be used purposely for the benefit of all indigenes instead of a few.
He said his presence at the Benin zonal office of the EFCC was in respect of an invitation by the commission over a petition on the alleged embezzlement.
The monarch said he was never arrested nor detained by the agency.
According to him, he was shocked to see reports of the alleged embezzlement and his purported arrest on different social media and news platforms.
While assuring that the economic and social developments of Okpella were his major priority, he, however, vowed that the old order, in which the community’s funds are being shared by a few, has gone.
He posited that Okpella, which is host to Dangote Cement and BUA Clement, cannot be seen as a poor and backward community in terms of development.
Sado alleged that those behind the allegations are greedy individuals who never wanted him to be the traditional ruler of the community.
He lamented that the community cannot boast of good roads, regular power supply, hospital, and several other social amenities.
He said within the seven months of his kingship, several projects running into several billions of naira have been initiated, and awarded while discussions on others are ongoing.
The royal father said, “Last week the social media platforms and other media were awash over my alleged arrest by the EFCC. I was only there based on the invitation. There are a few issues that I explained to them. I’m sure a few people know Okpella very well.
“Okpella is a community that generates huge amounts of money daily and monthly, and this community cannot boast of one meter of road, not to mention a kilometre of road.
“What has been happening in the past is that those companies bring money, and they share the money. So, when I came in, I called the Okpella Traditional Council. I explained to them that all these have to stop, and that we need to have a community bank account for the purpose of developing the entire community.”
He, however, disclosed that the Okpella Traditional Council, had in a petition threatened court action against those behind the allegations.
The petition dated March 13, 2026, is titled ‘Damage to our reputation, resulting in bodily injury and psychological torture to members of the Okpella community’.
The petition written by Principal Partner, Lucky D Almafumeh & Co, Aimofumeh Law House, was signed by the most senior Village Heads of the ruling house of the kingdom.
In the petition, the traditional council described the publications of the alleged arrest of the traditional ruler and the embezzlement of the N250 million community’s fund as disgusting and damaging to the image of the community.
DAILY POST recalls that last week there was a report that the traditional ruler and one Engr Patrick Omkhagbo were arrested and detained by the EFCC following a petition by the Ukhomuyo Council of Village Heads through their counsel A. O. Osagie & Associates.
They alleged that the traditional leader has converted the entire Ukhomuyio community into his personal estate by allegedly collecting huge sums due to the community from the natural resources in the area.
