According to sources, Shaba is a known political enforcer in Benin and was also allegedly involved in the violent attack on Don Pedro on Sunday.
A political thug loyal to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, identified as Adam Ehigiamusoe, popularly known as Shaba, has been accused of beating one of his female staff members to a pulp over unpaid salary at Destiny O Hotel Suites in Benin City.
SaharaReporters gathered that the victim, Love Nehizena aka Bella, was brutally assaulted on December 23 after she demanded payment of her salary, which her employer had earlier promised to pay.
According to sources, Shaba is a known political enforcer in Benin and was also allegedly involved in the violent attack on Don Pedro on Sunday.
A top source told SaharaReporters that the assault on the hotel worker happened just two days before the attack on Don Pedro.
“One of the hoodlums, Adam Ehigiamusoe, brutalised his staff two days before Don Pedro’s attack. He is part of the thugs the Oba and the Governor are using,” the source said.
Another source disclosed that the Edo State Commissioner of Police is aware of the assault but expressed doubts that justice would be served.
“The Commissioner ordered the divisional police to invite Shaba, but those guys are above the law in Edo. Trust me, they can’t arrest him,” the source added.
In a disturbing video obtained by SaharaReporters, the victim was seen with visible bruises and bloodstains on her body, showing clear signs of severe assault.
Speaking in the video, Bella narrated how her ordeal began after she went to her employer to ask for her unpaid salary.
She explained that her salary was supposed to be paid on the 18th of the month, but it was not.
Meanwhile, she approached Shaba and pleaded with him to pay her, explaining that the month was ending and she needed the money urgently. He allegedly promised to pay her on Tuesday.
On Monday morning, she returned to work but got no response from him. She said he later told her that anyone who was off duty should leave the premises by 8am, as he did not want to see anyone around after closing time.
According to her, after closing, Shaba told her he would see her before she left. When she went to his residence and knocked on the door, he allegedly became enraged and punched her.
“He started beating me. I did not insult him or provoke him in any way. I only reminded him that he said I could see him before leaving,” she said.
She added that Shaba then called his boys, including another staff member identified as Kingsley, and ordered them to join in the assault.
Shaba is also described as a professional driver and President of the Drivers’ Association at Ring Road, Benin.
As she shouted for help, people gathered, but the assault continued.
“He picked up an electric wire and started flogging me. When I held the wire, he ordered Kingsley to beat me. They beat me with wire, planks, and other objects on my legs, waist, neck, and back,” she said.
She further alleged that water and spit were poured on her while she was being beaten and that she was verbally abused and insulted for coming from a poor background.
"They poured water and spit on me while beating me and insulted me, calling me dirty and saying nobody cared about my family. They said I came from a poor background.
"He accused me of wanting to report the incident, but I told him I had not called anyone."
Agbonika, a single mother, said she pleaded with her attacker, explaining that she had no family support and only asked for her salary to take care of her baby. Despite this, the beating reportedly continued.
"I explained that I am a single parent with a child and no family support, and I only asked for my salary because I needed the money, especially now that I have a baby to take care of.
She also accused Shaba of threatening her life.
“He told me that because I am not connected to the government or police, nothing would happen to him. He said if I reported to the police, I would be arrested instead. He threatened to stab me and dump my body in the bush,” she said.
During the assault, her phone was broken after being hit with wood and wire.
"He further threatened my life, saying that if he harmed or killed me, nobody would question him. He specifically said he would stab me and dump my body in the bush.
"This incident happened on December 23, in the morning. He hit me on the head and all over my body. During the assault, he broke my phone. He used a piece of wood to beat me and also used a wire, which damaged my phone," she added.
As of the time of filing this report, no arrest has been made, raising fresh concerns over impunity, abuse of power, and the use of political thugs in Edo State.