Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed who will take possession of the looted Benin bronzes.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Federal Government of Nigeria said it will take ownership of the 1,130 looted Benin bronzes expected from Germany, which is in line with operative conventions and laws.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed made this known on Saturday, during a news conference on the efforts by the federal government to repatriate looted smuggled artefacts from around the world.
Mohammed was reacting to the controversy that had trailed who will take possession of the expected artefacts between the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II.
Gatekeepers News earlier reported that Obaseki showed a preference for a private trust to take custody and manage the artefacts, while the Oba wanted the stolen artefacts to be returned to a museum to be built within the Palace premises.
Oba Ewuare II, however, urged the federal government to take possession of the artefacts pending the time the museum will be built.
The Minister has thereafter, noted that the federal government of Nigeria was the entity recognised by international law as the power in control of antiquities originating from the country.
Mohammed said, “The Federal Government is aware of the widely-reported controversy over who will take possession of the Benin Bronzes when they are returned from Germany.
“Let me state clearly here that, in line with international best practice and the operative Conventions and laws, the return of the artefacts is being negotiated bilaterally between the national governments of Nigeria and Germany.
“Nigeria is the entity recognised by international law as the authority in control of antiquities originating from Nigeria.’’
“What we’re saying, in essence, is that the federal government will take possession of these antiquities, because it’s its duty to do so, in line with the extant laws.’’
