Fresh controversy has erupted in the Benin Kingdom following a public dispute between Queen Ewuare and members of the Benin Traditional Council over the controversial visit of popular social media influencer Habeeb Hamzat Adelaja to the royal palace.
The issue began after the influencer, widely known as Peller, visited the palace in Benin City as part of his nationwide tour earlier in March. The visit reportedly sparked outrage among palace authorities who described it as a breach of established royal protocol.
In a statement signed by the council’s secretary, Frank Irabor, the council alleged that the influencer and his entourage gained access to the palace without proper authorization, an act it described as a desecration of the sacred premises.
The council subsequently ordered Peller to appear before a committee of chiefs to explain the circumstances surrounding the visit and issue a written apology. It also disclosed that disciplinary proceedings had been initiated against the queen and some palace officials allegedly connected to the incident.
However, Queen Ewuare has rejected the claims, insisting that the visit was properly communicated to the palace authorities. In a video shared on her TikTok account, the queen accused the council of spreading misleading information about the event.
To support her claim, she released a document she said was a formal letter notifying the palace of the planned courtesy visit. The letter, reportedly addressed to Oba Ewuare II, allegedly carried an acknowledgement stamp from the Benin Traditional Council dated February 23, 2026.
According to the queen, the document proves that the palace had been informed ahead of the visit. She further hinted that deeper issues within the palace hierarchy might be responsible for the ongoing controversy.
Despite her claims, critics argue that acknowledgment of a letter does not automatically translate into official approval for such a visit, especially given the strict cultural protocols governing access to the palace.
Meanwhile, Peller’s management team has also released a statement maintaining that proper procedures were followed. The team said the visit was initially scheduled for March 3 but later moved to March 6, adding that the influencer was informed that the monarch would not be available but was allowed to tour parts of the palace with palace representatives.
The team emphasized that the visit was intended to promote Nigerian culture and not to disrespect the traditions of the Benin Kingdom. They also apologized for any misunderstandings arising from the event.
However, the Benin Traditional Council has maintained its position, stressing that the palace remains a sacred institution governed by centuries-old traditions and cannot be treated as a venue for casual visits or social media content creation.
The controversy has since generated intense debate on social media, with supporters and critics offering differing views on whether proper protocol was followed during the influencer’s visit
