Ready to play a game starring Stitch on Disney+? Or maybe create some kind of personalized, AI-animated version of the chaotic but oh-so-adorable alien from “Lilo & Stitch” you can share with your friends?
Disney+, which is in the process of merging with Hulu into a unified platform, is preparing “the biggest and the most significant changes from a product perspective” since the streaming service launched in late 2019, according to CEO Bob Iger, speaking on the media giant’s September quarter earnings call Thursday.
Iger then sketched out Disney+’s future roadmap — which could include games, commerce and AI user generated content. The big vision, he said, “particularly with the deployment of AI,” is to be able to leverage Disney+ “as a portal to all things Disney.”
“There’s an opportunity to use it as an engagement engine for people who want to go to our theme parks, want to stay at our hotels, want to enjoy our cruises, our cruise ships,” said Iger. “And obviously, there’s a huge opportunity for games.” He cited Disney’s $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games, the company behind “Fortnite,” and while the games and experiences developed under the partnership “will largely be on their platform,” the Epic pact “gives us an opportunity to integrate a number of game-like features into Disney+.”
Iger, on a roll, continued, “The other thing that we’re really excited about that AI is going to give us the ability to do is to provide users at Disney+ with a much more engaged experience, including the ability for them to create user generated content and to consume user generated content, mostly short form from others.”
“There are great opportunities in terms of our collection of data and our mining of data,” Iger told analysts. “And I’d say above all else, there’s phenomenal opportunities to deploy AI across our direct-to-consumer platforms, both to provide tools that make the platforms more dynamic and more sticky with consumers, but also give consumers the opportunity to create on our platforms.”
Needless to say, any AI features the Mouse House lights up on Disney+ would likely be confined within a very strict sandbox. Iger said Disney execs have had “some interesting conversations with some of the AI companies, and I would characterize some of them as quite productive conversations as well, seeking to not only protect the value of our IP and of our creative engines, but also to seek opportunities for us to use their technology to create more engagement with consumers. And we feel encouraged by some of the discussions that we’re having.”
Iger didn’t identify which AI companies Disney has spoken to. But, he said, “It’s obviously imperative for us to protect our IP using with this new technology, and we’ve been pretty engaged on that subject with a number of entities, and I’m hopeful that ultimately we’ll be able to reach some agreement with the industry or companies” that would “reflect our need to protect the IP.”
On that front, this year Disney began actively engaged in legal action against AI companies that it alleges had infringed its copyrights. Disney, together with NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery, has sued Midjourney and Chinese AI company MiniMax, seeking to recover monetary damages and injunctions to block the alleged infringement.
Beyond using AI for content production and for features in products like Disney+, the company sees opportunities in terms of increasing efficiency by deploying AI across the enterprise “as we engage with our cast members and our our employees, but also our guests and our customers.” (Variety)
Tension has engulfed the Maga community in Kebbi State after terrorists launched a deadly pre-dawn attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, reportedly abducting 25 students and killing a staff member.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar Kotarkoshi, the armed attackers, wielding sophisticated weapons, invaded the school at about 4:00 am and opened fire as they forced their way in.
“The police tactical units deployed in the school engaged them in a gun duel,” the PPRO said. “Unfortunately, the suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted twenty-five students from their hostel to an unknown destination.”
He confirmed that one staff member, Hassan Makuku, was shot dead, while another, Ali Shehu, sustained a gunshot injury to his right hand.
Following the attack, Abubakar said the command swiftly deployed additional police tactical squads alongside military personnel and local vigilantes to track the movement of the terrorists and rescue the abducted girls.
“They are currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forests with a view to rescuing the abducted students and possibly arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act,” he said.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, had reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.
“The Commissioner reiterates the Command’s unwavering determination to safeguard the people of Kebbi State,” Abubakar stated. “He appeals to the public to remain calm, vigilant, and continue supporting police operations to maintain peace and stability.”
Also confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, said the state government was closely monitoring developments.
“The exact number of abducted students is still being verified,” Idris told our correspondent.
“The deputy governor, Senator Umar Tafida, has been dispatched to the school to assess the situation on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris, who is currently out of the state.”
He assured residents that the government was working hand-in-hand with security agencies to secure the safe return of the students and restore normalcy to the community.
Parents and residents of Maga remain in anguish as they await further updates on the fate of the abducted girls.
In June 2021, bandits abducted some students of Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.
Seven months later in January 2022, the gunmen freed 30 students and a teacher after months of captivity, according to a local official. (Punch)
Pope Leo has held an audience with Hollywood stars, urging actors and directors including Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen and Monica Bellucci to continue their work as “pilgrims of the imagination”, helping to “bring hope”.
The celebrity meeting was a sprinkling of star dust for a still relatively new pope and a way for the Catholic Church to engage more with the world beyond.
It was also a strong show of support from Leo XIV for the global film industry, as he spoke out against the “troubling decline” in cinema-going.
Hailed by director Spike Lee as a “great day”, the gathering was the first of its kind in the Vatican.
Beneath the magnificent frescoes of the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo spoke in Italian to praise the power of cinema to entertain and to educate – and for its “capacity to amaze”.
But he urged filmmakers not to shy away from what he called “the world’s wounds”.
“Violence, poverty, exile, loneliness, addiction and forgotten wars are issues that need to be acknowledged and narrated,” the Pope said. “Good cinema does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it. This is what all the great directors have done.”
Six months since a conclave of cardinals elected the first North American to the Papacy, some Catholics feel that Leo has been slow to stamp his own mark on the role.
His predecessor, Francis, was a charismatic Argentinian known for his off-the-cuff comments and dramatic gestures. Leo’s style is far quieter, so this star-studded engagement is a new look.
It’s not clear how the cast list was drawn up, although none of the directors in the hall – who came from all over the world – made it onto the Pope’s own top film list.
This week, the Vatican revealed that his favourite four watches of all time included the 1960s nun-themed classic The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life and Italian Roberto Benigni’s multi award-winning Life is Beautiful.
Among those who did join today’s A-list audience were Mortensen, Chris Pine and filmmaker Gus Van Sant – of Milk and Good Will Hunting fame. The large Italian contingent included Gianni Amelio and Cinema Paradiso creator, Giuseppe Tornatore.
At a time of immense pressure on film, not long after a major Hollywood strike and with funding strains here in Italy, the Pope spoke in defence of the industry.
He was applauded loudly when he talked of the “quiet dedication” of all those behind the scenes with vital roles.
He also warned against the closure of cinemas which he characterised as the “beating heart of communities”.
“More than a few people are saying that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger. I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity,” the Pope said.
After a fifteen-minute speech and a blessing he then received each audience member in turn, led by Blanchett.
“He really urged us to go back into our day jobs and inspire people,” the Australian-born star told reporters.
One of many who came bearing gifts, the actress – who works with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR – placed a woven bracelet in the Pope’s hand. “It was a bracelet I wear in solidarity with people who are displaced,” she explained later.
Lee handed the Chicago-born Pope a New York Knicks shirt printed with the number 14 and the words Pope Leo. (BBC)
Webtoon Entertainment will bring a batch of stories that originated on mobile phones to life as animated projects under a new deal with Warner Bros. Animation. The companies intend to enter into an agreement to co-produce 10 fan-favorite Webtoon webcomics series for global distribution.
The collaboration is a “significant expansion of Webtoon Entertainment’s animation pipeline,” according to the company. Projects are to be selected from the company’s Korean- and English-language platforms, with development support from Webtoon Entertainment’s U.S.-based Webtoon Productions and Japanese intellectual-property business teams.
The projects Webtoon plans to co-produce with Warner Bros. Animation could be films or series, but right now it’s early in the process — and no release dates have been targeted yet. The creators of the original Webtoon webcomics own the IP and, under their agreements with the company, will receive a share of revenue generated from the animation projects, said Yongsoo Kim, Webtoon Entertainment’s chief strategy officer and head of global.
“Our creators are building franchises that Gen Z audiences love, and working with Warner Bros. Animation gives us an incredible opportunity to take those stories further alongside one of the most respected names in animation,” said Kim.
Other Webtoon Entertainment adaptations are available on Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, Sony’s Crunchyroll and other platforms. The company’s content partners include Disney, Discord, HYBE and DC Comics. Webtoon, a pioneer in the webcomic format, has about 155 million monthly active users globally.
Warner Bros. Animation is home to animated characters from the DC, Hanna-Barbera, MGM and Looney Tunes libraries. WBA recently released original anime feature film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” with New Line Cinema and “The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie,” released on March 14, 2025, with Ketchup Entertainment.
“Bringing together the world-class artistry of Warner Bros. Animation and the vibrant storytelling of Webtoon creates an awesome combination and opportunity to build something special,” said Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios, Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe.
Sinbae Kim, chief growth officer of LINE Digital Frontier, leads Webtoon’s global animation efforts and was involved in inking the Warner Bros. Animation deal. According to Kim, Webtoon has a “unique ability to discover original voices, nurture global fandoms and build the next generation of franchise storytelling from the ground up… This partnership with Warner Bros. Animation is an exciting next step in that journey — one that expands what’s possible for our creators, our studios and our fans.”
“From hits like ‘True Beauty,’ ‘Clevatess’ and ‘Tower of God’ to many more adaptations in progress, we’re proving that great stories can start on a phone screen and grow into global entertainment phenomena,” said Kim. (Variety)
Tom Cruise accepted an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night, delivering an emotional speech about his lifelong passion for filmmaking.
The Academy Honorary Award was presented by Alejandro González Iñárritu, who is directing Cruise in an unnamed film slated for release next year.
The four-time Oscar-nominated actor described filmmaking as not just a job, but “who I am”.
“It takes me around the world,” Cruise told the audience in the Ray Dolby Ballroom.
“It helps me to appreciate and respect differences. It shows me, also, our shared humanity, how alike we are in so, so many ways.
“And no matter where we come from, in that theatre, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together, and that is the power of this art form. And that is why it matters; that is why it matters to me. So, making films is not what I do; it is who I am.”
The Mission: Impossible star was honoured alongside singer Dolly Parton, choreographer Debbie Allen, and Do the Right Thing production designer Wynn Thomas.
Historically, many recipients of the prize have not yet won a competitive Academy Award themselves.
Cruise has been nominated twice for Best Actor in Born on the Fourth of July and Jerry Maguire, once for Supporting Actor in Magnolia, and once as a producer for Best Picture with Top Gun: Maverick.
He told the crowd his love for cinema began at a young age.
“My love for cinema began at a very early age, as early as I can remember,” Cruise said.
“I was just a little kid in a darkened theatre, and I remember that beam of light just cut across the room, and I remember looking up, and it seemed to be just exploding on the screen. Suddenly, the world was so much larger than the one that I knew.”
Dolly Parton was recognised with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for her decades-long charitable endeavours.
Parton, who could not attend due to health concerns, sent her thanks via video.
When Cruise’s award was announced in June, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Janet Yang hailed Cruise’s “incredible commitment to our filmmaking community, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community”.
“This year’s Governors Awards will celebrate four legendary individuals whose extraordinary careers and commitment to our filmmaking community continue to leave a lasting impact,” she said.
The Oscar nominations will be announced on 22 January 2026. The Academy Awards will take place on 15 March. (RTE)
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has sacked the traditional rulers of Ososo and Ikpeshi/Egbegere clans in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the state.
The affected monarchs are Bamidele Obaitan of the Ososo Kingdom and Zaiki Luckman Odamah III of the Ikpeshi/Egbegere Clan.
Their removal was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Iklor.
According to the statement, Governor Okpebholo approved the revocation of their appointments in the interest of peace, stability, and due process after reviewing the circumstances surrounding ongoing disputes over the traditional leadership of both communities.
The governor also approved the appointment of Nicholas Odamah as the Regent of the Ikpeshi/Egbegere Clan, while the Elders of the Four Quarters (Unukhus), the Council of Chiefs, and the Elders of Ososo were directed to meet, consult widely, and submit a consensus candidate for appointment to the vacant stool of the Ososo Kingdom.
The statement read, “Odamah shall oversee the affairs of the clan in a custodial capacity and ensure full cooperation with government directives.
“Submission of a consensus candidate shall be made through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs within a timeframe to be communicated formally by the Ministry. This process must reflect the customs, rotation principles, and collective will of the Ososo people.
“Both Bamidele Obaitan and Luckman Odamah are directed to immediately hand over all government properties, instruments of office, and materials in their possession to the Chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government Council, without delay.”
It was gathered that Odamah III had earlier protested the appointment of Prof. Roland Otaru (SAN) as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice. (Punch)
The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that spliced parts of his 6 January 2021 speech together, but rejected his demands for compensation.
The corporation said the edit had given “the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action” and said it would not show the 2024 programme again.
Lawyers for Trump have threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn (£759m) in damages unless the corporation issues a retraction, apologises and compensates him.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told BBC Breakfast she was confident the corporation was “gripping this with the seriousness that it demands”, adding her role was to ensure “the highest standards are upheld”.
But she also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the BBC’s editorial standards and guidelines were “in some cases not robust enough and in other cases not consistently applied”, adding that there would need to be people “at a very senior level with a journalistic background”.
Political appointments to the corporation’s board would be examined in the BBC’s charter review, she said in response to a question asking if member Sir Robbie Gibb, a former political adviser to Theresa May, had overstepped his remit and weighed into politics.
While this was a matter for the board and its chairman, she said, those appointments “damaged confidence and trust in the BBC’s impartiality”.
Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey had urged the prime minister on Thursday to “get on the phone to Trump” to put a stop to his lawsuit threat and “defend the impartiality and independence of the BBC”.
The fallout from the scandal led to the resignations of BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness on Sunday.
BBC News has approached the White House for comment.
The apology comes hours after a second similarly edited clip, broadcast on Newsnight in 2022, was revealed by the Daily Telegraph.
In its Corrections and Clarifications section, published on Thursday evening, the BBC said the Panorama programme had been reviewed after criticism of how Trump’s speech had been edited.
The BBC had been given a deadline of 22:00 GMT (17:00 EST) on Friday to respond.
“We accept that our edit unintentionally created the impression that we were showing a single continuous section of the speech, rather than excerpts from different points in the speech, and that this gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action,” the statement said.
Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump’s legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday, a BBC spokesperson said.
“BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president’s speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme,” they said.
They added: “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
In Trump’s speech he said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.”
More than 50 minutes later in the speech, he said: “And we fight. We fight like hell.”
In the Panorama programme the clip shows him as saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said his speech had been “butchered” and the way it was presented had “defrauded” viewers.
The BBC received the letter from Trump’s lawyers on Sunday. It demands a “full and fair retraction” of the documentary, an apology, and that the BBC “appropriately compensate President Trump for the harm caused”.
In its letter to Trump’s legal team, the BBC sets out five main arguments for why it does not think it has a case to answer.
First it says the BBC did not have the rights to, and did not, distribute the Panorama episode on its US channels.
When the documentary was available on BBC iPlayer, it was restricted to viewers in the UK.
Secondly, it says the documentary did not cause Trump harm, as he was re-elected shortly after.
Thirdly, it says the clip was not designed to mislead, but just to shorten a long speech, and that the edit was not done with malice.
Fourthly, it says the clip was never meant to be considered in isolation. Rather, it was 12 seconds within an hour-long programme, which also containedlots of voices in support of Trump.
Finally, an opinion on a matter of public concern and political speech is heavily protected under defamation laws in the US.
A BBC insider said that internally, there is a strong belief in the case the corporation has put forward, and in its defence. (BBC)
Joe Lewis, the British billionaire and former owner of Tottenham Hotspur FC, has been pardoned by Donald Trump over a 2024 conviction for his part in a “brazen” insider trading scheme.
Lewis, 88, was fined $5m (£3.8m) and given three years probation by a New York judge last year but was spared jail time after pleading guilty to involvement in a plan that prosecutors said was designed to enrich his friends, lovers and employees.
Lawyers for the east London-born investor initially accused prosecutors of making an “egregious” mistake by charging him with multiple counts of securities fraud and conspiracy.
But Lewis, who also owns the largest stake in one of the UK’s biggest operators of pubs, bars and restaurants, Mitchells & Butlers, later changed his plea to guilty after prosecutors agreed to a non-custodial sentence.
Lewis retained his right to change his plea again if a custodial sentence were imposed.
In a statement to the court at his sentencing last year, he said: “I made a terrible mistake. I broke the law. I am ashamed, sorry, and I hold myself accountable.”
The judge, Jessica Clarke, said Lewis’s circumstances did not warrant incarceration and imposed a $44m fine on his company, Broad Bay, on top of his $5m personal fine and probation.
But on Thursday, the Daily Telegraph was first to report that Trump planned to pardon Lewis entirely. The Guardian understands that the fine will not be repaid to Lewis or his company.
The White House later confirmed the pardon and said Lewis requested it so that he could receive medical treatment and visit his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the US, the Associated Press reported.
Lewis said: “I am pleased all of this is now behind me, and I can enjoy retirement and watch as my family and extended family continue to build our businesses based on the quality and pursuit of excellence that has become our trademark.”
A source close to the family said: “Joe and the Lewis family are extremely grateful for this pardon and would like to thank President Trump for taking this action.
“Over his long business career, Joe has been a visionary, creating businesses across the world, which multiple generations of his family are now taking forward. There is so much more to the Joe Lewis story than this one event.”
Lewis already transferred his majority ownership interest in Tottenham to his family via a trust in 2022, the year before he was charged.
The north London football club is now overseen by Lewis’s daughter Vivienne, his son Charles, and Vivienne’s son-in-law Nick Beucher.
Details of the insider trading scheme were documented in a 29-page dossier published by the US attorney for the southern district of New York in 2023.
Prosecutors accused Lewis of passing on share tips based on inside information to his employees, including his private jet pilot and his then 33-year-old girlfriend, Carolyn Carter, to allow them to make a profit from stock trading. (Guardian)
A suicide attack outside a court in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has killed 12 people and injured at least 27 others, the country’s interior minister said.
Mohsin Naqvi said a bomber was planning to attack the district courthouse but was unable to get inside.
Naqvi said authorities would prioritise identifying the bomber, and that those involved would be brought to justice.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has alleged that extremist groups “actively backed by India” were involved.
A spokesperson for the Indian government denied what they described as “baseless and unfounded allegations”.
In a statement, Sharif said that “terrorist attacks on unarmed citizens of Pakistan by India’s terrorist proxies are condemnable”.
Jumaat Ul Ahrar, a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), has claimed responsibility, according to local media. But two local journalists have told the BBC that the TTP’s central leadership has sent messages to them saying it has no link to the explosion.
Suicide blasts in Islamabad have been rare in recent years. Footage from the scene on Tuesday showed the remains of a burnt-out car and a police cordon in place.
The 27 people injured are receiving medical treatment, Naqvi said.
He added that the attacker detonated the bomb close to a police car after waiting for up to 15 minutes.
Footage of the aftermath showed plumes of smoke rising from a charred vehicle behind a security barrier. The incident occurred at 12:39 local time (07:39 GMT).
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said he “strongly condemned the suicide blast”.
A lawyer who said he was parking his car outside the court at the time described hearing a “loud bang”.
Rustam Malik told AFP news agency “it was complete chaos”.
“Lawyers and people were running inside the complex,” he added. “I saw two dead bodies lying on the gate and several cars were on fire.”
In a separate incident on Monday, a car exploded in India’s capital Delhi, killing eight people and injuring a number of others.
The Indian government has not called the incident a terror attack, although the case has been referred to the country’s anti-terror body.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said following the attack: “The conspirators behind this heinous act will not be spared. All those responsible will be brought to justice, no matter how deep the conspiracy runs.”
There is, however, no official word yet on what led to the blast.
The last time Pakistan’s capital was targeted by a suicide bombing was three years ago when a police officer was killed and several others injured.
There have been suicide attacks in other parts of the country in the years since but not in Islamabad. (BBC)
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has revoked the land title granted to the Museum of West African Art by the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, declaring that the property will revert to its original use as the historic Benin Central Hospital.
The decision, announced in a statement signed by the governor and dated October 21, 2025, and made public in Benin City on Monday, November 10, 2025, followed mounting controversy surrounding the MOWAA project.
The project has drawn objections from the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, as well as renewed public outcry over the demolition of the old Central Hospital to make way for the museum.
Okpebholo’s action came barely 24 hours after a chaotic scene at the museum’s preview exhibition, where protesters claiming loyalty to the Benin Palace disrupted the event attended by European diplomats, including the ambassadors of the European Union and Germany, forcing guests to be evacuated under tight security.
While the governor expressed shock that his administration was not informed about the envoys’ visit, he accused the previous government of handling the project with “a gross lack of transparency.”
However, MOWAA management has denied allegations that it used the name “Benin Royal Museum” to secure funding, insisting it held no claim to the Benin Bronzes.
Okpebholo, ordering the revocation of the Right of Occupancy earlier granted to the MOWAA management by the Obaseki administration, said it was carried out “in the overriding public interest,” citing the authority vested in him by Sections 28 and 38 of the Land Use Decree No. 6 of 1978 (now the Land Use Act).
In the official statement titled “Land Use Decree 1978: Revocation of Statutory Rights of Occupancy Pursuant to Sections 28 and 38,” Okpebholo declared that the land previously allocated to the Edo Museum of West African Art Trust Ltd/GTE had been reclaimed by the state and would be restored to its original use as the Benin Central Hospital, a historic medical institution that has served the city for over a century.
“Notice is hereby given that in exercise of the power conferred upon me by Section (28) 1 and 38 of the Land Use Decree No. 6 of 1978 and by virtue of all other laws enabling me on that behalf, I, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Executive Governor of Edo State of Nigeria, hereby revoke the Statutory Rights of Occupancy granted to Edo Museum of West African Art Trust (EMOWAA) Ltd/GTE for overriding public interest,” the notice read.
Okpebholo said the land in question, known as Digital Plot No. 61977, Zone HI/A12/Ogboka, Benin City, in Oredo Local Government Area, measures approximately 6.210 hectares and was the site of the demolished Central Hospital.
He further noted that the boundaries of the property were contained in the survey attached to the Certificate of Occupancy dated November 28, 2022, registered as No. 169 at page 3 in Volume 45, and now kept in the EDOGIS Land Registry, Benin City.
The revocation marks a reversal of the Obaseki-era decision that sparked widespread public outrage, particularly from the Benin Royal Palace and heritage advocates.
The PUNCH reports that an exhibition at the museum turned chaotic on Sunday as angry protesters stormed the venue, forcing a high-profile event to shut down abruptly.
The preview opening, described as a private exhibition for investors, artists, and foreign envoys, quickly descended into panic when a mob claiming the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin breached parts of the premises.
Viral footage circulating later showed fear-stricken foreign dignitaries being evacuated under tight security.
On Monday, Okpebholo said his administration was not informed about the presence of foreign envoys in the state for activities related to the Museum of West African Art in Benin.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, the governor made the clarification when he received a high-powered delegation of European diplomats, including the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gautier Mignot, and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Annett Günther, at the Government House, Benin City.
He expressed shock over the visit of foreign envoys and later led the delegation on a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II.
Speaking at the palace, Okpebholo described the development as another example of the “lack of transparency” that surrounded the MOWAA project since its inception.
“We are here with the European and German Ambassadors, and their colleagues from the Netherlands and Belgium, to see His Royal Majesty. They have spoken about areas of collaboration and also about what happened yesterday. Honestly, I wasn’t aware that such a gathering was going to take place; that’s the truth. However, we have spoken with the Oba and gotten his side of the story,” he said.
The governor disclosed that his administration had already constituted a committee to investigate the MOWAA project and make recommendations on the way forward.
Okpebholo noted that the state government was never briefed on the project’s financiers, ownership structure, or operational details, stressing that even the Oba of Benin had personally expressed concern over its handling.
“The previous administration never briefed me about MOWAA nor handed over any documentation concerning the project. I know nothing about its transactions or agreements,” he added.
He condemned the demolition of the historic Central Hospital in Benin City to make way for MOWAA, noting: “Why destroy a functioning hospital to build a museum? We are proud of our heritage, but development must be responsible and people-centred.”
Oba Ewuare II lamented the manner in which the project was executed, accusing Obaseki of attempting to “mortgage” the rights of the Benin people over their ancestral artefacts.
“It is like history wanting to repeat itself. My forefathers suffered during the British invasion of 1897, and it is not fair that this is happening again. The documents they brought for me to sign would have taken away our rights to these artefacts, and I refused,” the monarch said.
Speaking after the courtesy visit to the palace, Mignot said the mission of the delegation was to pay homage to the monarch and strengthen cooperation with Edo State.
“We have just paid a courtesy call to His Royal Majesty to present our greetings and explain the reason for our visit, which is to deepen our partnership with Edo State. We also discussed the MOWAA project and the unfortunate incidents that occurred. We exchanged views in a spirit of dialogue and partnership, which is how we intend to move forward,” he said.
Mignot clarified that while the European Union as an institution had no direct investment in MOWAA, some EU member states, including Germany, were partners in the initiative.
Dr Günther, in her remarks, commended Okpebholo and the Oba of Benin for their hospitality, reaffirming Germany’s longstanding partnership with Edo State in migration management, youth empowerment, and cultural preservation.
“I am honoured to have paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin, and His Excellency, the Governor of Edo State. During my visit, I will attend the graduation of 450 youths from IT training programmes and visit several project sites. Our cooperation extends beyond development; it includes support for cultural heritage, including the return of over 1,200 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria,” she said.
Dr Günther emphasised that the preservation of peace and transparency was critical to sustaining MOWAA’s cultural and educational mission.
The management of MOWAA, however, denied allegations that it presented itself as the Benin Royal Museum to secure funding.
It urged relevant authorities to confirm directly with all donors to get the true position of its dealings.
Director of MOWAA Institute, Ore Disu, in a statement issued in Benin City on Monday, said the body would continue to uphold deep respect for His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin.
Disu said MOWAA would make every effort to foster understanding and goodwill, as well as remain dedicated to engaging respectfully.
He said the organisation remained committed to contributing to the preservation and advancement of West Africa’s rich cultural legacy.
“MOWAA does not hold, nor have we ever claimed title to, any Benin Bronzes. Since our inception in 2020, the museum has consistently affirmed that it has no claims to these artefacts.
“Our focus for the last four years has been firmly on broader West African art, research, education, and conservation, with a strong focus on modern and contemporary, as well as historical works from Nigeria and beyond.
There are no Benin Bronzes on display at the museum, nor have there ever been,” the statement read.
Disu clarified that there was no planned formal inauguration or official opening of the museum, adding that Sunday’s event was a private preview for partners and stakeholders.
He also said none of the historical works on display were of Benin heritage. (Punch)
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