The Eyean Cattle Dealers Association in Benin City, Edo State, is facing significant internal conflict following the removal of its Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman, Idris Adano, and secretary, Awall Shafie. The pair were ousted on April 25, 2026, during a general meeting where five out of seven board members voted for their dismissal.
The allegations against the duo include the misappropriation of N116 million and failure to settle a N35 million debt owed for waste management services within the market. Consequently, Jidda Tahir and Ibrahim Shariff have been appointed as the new chairman and secretary. The association’s legal representative, Ejiga Paul Enemona, confirmed the removal followed constitutional protocols, noting that five out of seven board members constituted a sufficient majority to authorize the change. He added that the association has formally notified the Corporate Affairs Commission regarding this transition.
Adano has dismissed the accusations, labeling them as efforts by detractors to incite instability. In a statement issued with Adam Gombe, Adano claimed he retains the full confidence of the association’s members, citing his transparent leadership and commitment to the group’s goals. He urged security agencies and the public to ignore the claims, maintaining that he remains the legitimate leader.
However, Enemona countered these claims by detailing evidence of financial misconduct, specifically mentioning unpaid fees owed to a contractor, Dele Edokpayi. The association’s legal team has warned that further attempts by the former officials to represent the organization will result in intervention from law enforcement.
