The controversy surrounding the visit of streamer Habeeb Adelaja to the Benin Royal Palace has taken a dramatic turn, as Queen Ewuare publicly challenged claims that the visit was unauthorised.
The queen’s response follows her suspension by the Benin Traditional Council (BTC), alongside some palace chiefs and a staff member, over what the council described as a “desecration of the sacred precincts of the palace.”
Peller, currently on a nationwide tour, visited the palace in Benin City, Edo State, on March 6 and was reportedly received by certain palace officials. The visit later sparked outrage within traditional circles.
In a statement on Tuesday, signed by the BTC Secretary Frank Irabor, the council condemned the visit as a “breach of protocol,” ordering Peller to appear before a committee of chiefs to explain his actions and tender an unreserved written apology. The council alleged that Peller and his entourage gained access to the palace without requisite approval, causing “significant embarrassment” and disrupting the palace’s peace.
Queen Ewuare, however, took to her TikTok account (@queen_ewuare-_backup) on Thursday to contest the council’s claims, insisting that the narrative being circulated was misleading. She shared what she described as documentary evidence, a letter bearing an acknowledgement stamp from the BTC, which, she said, proved that Peller’s visit had been formally communicated to the palace ahead of time.
“The Benin Traditional Council lied that Peller’s visit was unauthorised and that I brought him to the palace. Look at the stamp on this letter; it shows it was received by the Benin Traditional Council, but they’re all lying against me,” the queen said.
The disputed letter, dated February 23, 2026, and signed by Uyiekpen Ogiefa, formally notified the palace of Peller’s planned visit and requested a brief audience with the monarch. It also stated that Ogiefa, son of Chief Courage Uyi Ogiefa, would accompany the influencer.
While Queen Ewuare maintains that the acknowledgement validates the visit, critics argue that receipt of a letter does not equate to formal approval, fuelling mixed reactions across social media.
