A TikTok video by @peller08 showed the viral content creator attempting to clear his name after being declared “wanted” by the Benin Traditional Council. The controversy stems from an unauthorized visit to the Palace of the Oba of Benin, which the council has deemed a “sacrilegious” act. To make matters worse, a local businesswoman has slapped the influencer with a N395 million lawsuit over a separate lounge video she claims defamed her brand.
According to TVC News, the Benin Queen has countered some of the palace chiefs’ claims, but the legal pressure on Peller remains intense. The influencer maintained his innocence in a livestream, stating, “I did nothing wrong, I was only there to show culture,” though the traditional authorities seem unmoved by his digital-age defense.
Pulse Nigeria reported on the financial weight of the situation, noting that “Nigerians are divided over whether the N395m lawsuit is an attempt to ‘clout-chase’ or a legitimate legal grievance.” The Punch verified the palace’s stance, quoting a spokesperson who said, “Traditional protocols are not for content creation; there must be respect for the throne.”
Echotitbits take: This is a classic “Old World vs. New World” collision. Peller’s fast-and-loose approach to content creation has finally hit the wall of deep-rooted cultural tradition. Regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome, this serves as a massive warning to Nigerian influencers: some boundaries are not meant to be crossed for “likes.”
Source: The Punch — https://thenationonlineng.net/peller-breaks-silence-on-benin-palace-controversy-n395m-lawsuit/ March 30, 2026
Photo Credit: The Punch
