A visually impaired widow and mother of four, Barrister Benny Francis, has made a desperate plea to Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, seeking his direct intervention in a series of tragic events that have left her family destitute and grieving.
A Double Tragedy: Blindness and Bereavement
Barrister Francis's ordeal is a harrowing tale of compounded misfortune. She revealed that her life took a drastic turn when she was a contractor with the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC). She was awarded a contract to construct a 10-unit staff quarters in Ughoton Community. During the project's execution, she suffered a diabolical attack that rendered her completely blind. Following this, EDSOGPADEC promised to compensate her for her losses, cover her medical bills, and aid her recovery, but these assurances were never fulfilled.
She pursued legal action, initially demanding N1 billion in damages. The government proposed a settlement of N300 million, but after court deliberations, a sum of N500 million was agreed upon as compensation. Shockingly, only N50 million was eventually offered, which she rejected on legal advice. The promised support, including new contracts, never materialized. To finance the EDSOGPADEC project, she had taken loans and subsequently lost all her properties—her home, cars, and valuables—to the bank.
The Fatal Accident and Blocked Access to Justice
As if her plight was not severe enough, tragedy struck again on December 11, 2024. Her husband, the family's sole breadwinner, was killed in a horrific accident. He was knocked down by a bus that was being chased by the Edo State Task Force, then led by a figure known as Kelly Okungbowa, alias Ebo-Stone (also referred to as Able Stone in her account). The vehicle crushed his head. He was rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital and later referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), where he died by 5:00 pm that same day.
"I lost my husband when I was five months pregnant and left to care for four young children, now as a widow, with no means of support," she lamented. She stated that upon hearing of the incident, Governor Okpebholo had inquired about the victim's family, showing interest. However, all her efforts to personally meet with the governor have been thwarted. She alleges being systematically blocked whenever the controversial figure, Ebo-Stone, is involved.
"I met with the Coordinator of the First Lady... On one of my visits... I met Ebo-Stone in the office... Till this moment, no attempt from that end," she explained. "Once I meet them with Ebo-Stone, their doors become completely shut against me. I don't know what they are hiding." She also forcefully debunked claims by Ebo-Stone that he had compensated her and her children.
A Plea for Compassion and Government Action
With her financial situation in ruins and her family's pillar gone, Barrister Benny Francis's appeal is now directly to the state's chief executive. She is calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo, as a father and a man of compassion, to intervene in her case and ensure the state government fulfills its obligations and provides her family with the support promised by law and moral duty.
Attempts by The Guardian to get a response from Ebo-Stone were unsuccessful. When contacted by phone, he stated he was at a party and ended the call immediately upon realizing it was a journalist. A follow-up SMS sent to his line also received no reply at the time of reporting.
