Police arrest ex-Okpebholo aide Kelly Okungbowa for allegedly assaulting officer
Former Aide to Edo Governor Arrested for Assaulting Police Officer
BENIN CITY, Edo State — The Edo State Police Command announced the arrest of Kelly Okungbowa, a former aide to Governor Monday Okpebholo, on charges of allegedly assaulting a police officer on duty. The arrest occurred on Saturday evening, May 30, 2026, along the Upper Sakponba axis in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Eno Ikoedem, spokesperson for the command, confirmed the arrest on Sunday, May 31, stating that Okungbowa is currently in custody and will face charges in court.
Ikoedem emphasized the importance of respecting law enforcement personnel while they perform their duties and asserted that no individual is above the law.
During the incident, Okungbowa reportedly confronted the officer while he was engaged in lawful activities, leading to the latter’s call for assistance from police operatives.
Kola Edokpayi, President of the Talakawa’s Rights Group, condemned the alleged assault, labeling it as unacceptable. In a statement, he praised police officers for demonstrating restraint and professionalism amid provocation, and he urged that grievances against law enforcement should be addressed through appropriate channels rather than through confrontation.
Edokpayi noted that given Okungbowa’s prior connections within government, it would have been more suitable for him to use official avenues to report any perceived misconduct.
Okungbowa’s history includes previous roles as Coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT) and as Chairman of a committee designated to recover government vehicles. He faced scrutiny and was suspended from his PSRT position in March 2025 after multiple complaints of extortion and misconduct surfaced, particularly following an incident in which a two-year-old child was killed during a vehicle seizure operation.
Additionally, Okungbowa was arrested on March 17, 2025, by operatives from the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) due to allegations of currency abuse following the dissemination of a viral video featuring him spraying and mutilating naira bills.
After being charged, he was granted bail. Okungbowa was also involved in a reported assault on female journalist Juliet Enabulele and cameraman Bright Osifo on December 15, 2025, during an event at the Government House aimed at supporting individuals with physical disabilities.
