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The 1,130 Benin bronzes Germany plans to return to Nigeria in 2022 will not go to either the Edo State Government or the Benin Royal Palace.
When the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, announced the launch of a campaign for the return and restitution of Nigeria’s looted/smuggled artefacts in 2019, he would not have expected the massive windfall.
Mohammed had warned that the FG was coming after foreign countries keeping stolen artefacts from Nigeria using all available legal and diplomatic means. He explained that Nigeria was relying on UNESCO and ECOWAS Article 4 of the UNESCO 1970 Convention most nations subscribe to ensure all stolen items are returned to the country.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed
The Federal Government will take possession of 1,130 looted Benin Bronzes when returned by Germany, Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said.
The minister stated this on Saturday at a press conference in Lagos State.
Mohammed; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; and some government officials had visited Germany recently to further talks on the repatriation of the artefacts allegedly looted during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British led by Captain Philip.
The Benin Palace and the Edo State Government have been at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.
By Olawale Ajimotokan
The federal government has in clear terms ruled out turning over the 1,130 Benin bronzes presently in possession of the German government to any individuals or subnational groups when the artefacts are finally repatriated to the country by August 2022.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed made this clarification on Saturday while addressing the press in Lagos on the efforts by the federal government to repatriate looted and smuggled artefacts from around the world.
The remarks on the heels of the controversy between the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II and the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki over who should take possession of the artefacts.
Looted Benin Bronzes
Amid His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Ogidigan’s call for the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of the 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts in Germany after they are repatriated from Europe, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has expressed government’s determination to take possession of the artefacts. He disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday.
The Benin Palace and the Edo State government have been at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts (EMOWAA).
Nigeria give Germany deadline to return looted, stolen and smuggled artefacts bbc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bbc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.