Months after an alleged abduction, assault, and public humiliation in Benin City, Nollywood filmmaker Don Pedro Obaseki has filed a lawsuit against 11 individuals implicated in the incident.
On December 28, 2025, Mr. Obaseki, a cousin to former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, was reportedly taken from a field where he was assaulted and subsequently brought to the palace of the Oba of Benin.
The attackers, who allegedly labelled him an 'Oghioba' (enemy of the Oba), forcibly escorted him to the Oba's Palace to account for his presence at a UK meet-and-greet event, where he was accused of disparaging the palace.
Following the incident, which caused considerable uproar, particularly within film industry circles, Mr. Obaseki announced his intention to retain the services of renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, as his lead counsel.
In a recent legal development, the filmmaker has filed for an award of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general and exemplary damages against the respondents, jointly and severally, for the unlawful infringement of his fundamental rights.
The lawsuit names Osazee Kabaka Adun (alias Kapuepue), Osayande Obakhavbaye, Gege Izua Adun, Osamede Nomoless Eriyo, Julius Imafu, Uyigue Obazehowan, Osamiemwanfan Ojo (alias Sales Guy), Rambo Izua Adun, Uwaifo Orhue Ogiugo, Osaro Iyamu (alias Culture), Chris Osa Media, the State Security Service (SSS), and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.
In a motion filed with suit number FHC/B/08/20/2026, the politician and businessman is also seeking a declaration that his abduction, violent physical assault, and brutalisation constituted a genuine, imminent, and unlawful threat to his life and a gross violation of his fundamental right to life, as protected under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution.
Furthermore, Mr. Obaseki seeks a declaration that his detention for approximately five hours at a police station in Benin City, Edo State, on the aforementioned day was unlawful and potentially constituted a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty.
The filmmaker also seeks a declaration that the "failure, neglect, and refusal" of the SSS and the Attorney-General to "arrest, investigate, and prosecute the persons who abducted and assaulted the applicant constitute a breach of their constitutional and statutory duties."
He is further requesting an order directing the SSS and the Attorney-General to ensure the prompt identification, arrest, thorough investigation, and prosecution, in accordance with the law, of the first to eleventh respondents and all other individuals involved in his alleged abduction, torture, and assault. Additionally, he is seeking a public apology from the first to eleventh respondents, to be published in two national newspapers.
In January, following the alleged assault, Mr. Obaseki had petitioned the Director-General of the SSS.
His petition stated that he was beaten, stripped naked, and publicly humiliated while being dragged through major streets in Benin City, including areas around Holy Arousa Church.
He urged the SSS to investigate the matter, identify all perpetrators, and take necessary legal action.
In the interim, the Benin Traditional Council has distanced the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, from the assault on the filmmaker, asserting that the monarch neither authorized nor condoned the incident.
In a statement signed by its Secretary, Frank Irabor, the council termed the attack on Mr. Obaseki as unfortunate and contrary to the established character and values of the Benin throne.
"The Benin Traditional Council wishes to use this medium to inform the general public that the unfortunate incident in which Pedro Obaseki was manhandled was not authorised by the Oba of Benin. It could not have been authorised, as such an act is inconsistent with the character of our revered monarch," the statement read.
In January, the renowned writer had stated that after extensive consultations with his wife, children, members of the Obaseki family and clan, senior legal advisors, and respected elders, he had decided to sue the perpetrators.
He emphasized that this decision was motivated by the pursuit of accountability, deterrence, and the protection of human dignity, rather than revenge or political objectives.
Mr. Obaseki characterized the incident as a grave violation of his fundamental rights, asserting that the actions constituted terrorism-related violence under Nigerian law.
In February, the SSS officially took over the investigation into the alleged attack and abduction of the veteran filmmaker.
Subsequently, the SSS arrested and arraigned Mr. Osazee before Justice R. A. Ogbevoen of the Benin High Court in Edo State for his alleged involvement in the attack and abduction.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ogbevoen accepted the defense counsel's arguments and granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million, requiring a surety residing within the court's jurisdiction.
The judge further stipulated that the surety must be a civil servant holding Grade Level 12 or higher.
In January, Mr. Falana had described the actions of Mr. Obaseki's abductors as terrorist acts, vowing that they would face the full extent of the law.
According to Mr. Falana, under the Terrorism Act of 2022, kidnapping or abduction followed by brutalisation, ridicule, threats, or death constitutes a terrorist act.
"But also, under the Anti-Torture Act of 2017, any person who subjects a Nigerian to physical, psychological, and mental torture is liable to be prosecuted, with a penalty of 25 years imprisonment, without an option of fine."
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