Nigerian royals have claimed Cambridge University bosses were “duped” into an agreement to repatriate the Benin Bronzes and must now return them to a local king.

In 2022, the university pledged to return 116 artefacts to Nigeria, but paused its plan when it emerged that the treasures would become the private property of the king of the Benin people, rather than a Nigerian government body.

The Benin royal household has now claimed that Cambridge bosses were “duped” into making deals with false claimants to the Bronzes amid an internal political wrangle in Nigeria. 

A senior prince representing the palace has insisted that the university stop stalling and return the artefacts to their “legitimate” owner, the king or “Oba” of Benin, reigniting an international row over the metal artworks.

Hundreds of artworks were created for the monarchs of the Kingdom of Benin – which was absorbed into Nigeria – and looted by British troops after they stormed the palace of then-ruler Oba Ovonramwen in an 1897 expedition.

His modern-day descendant, Oba Ewuare II, contends that the artefacts rightfully belong to him and should be returned directly. 

The position has been endorsed by the Nigerian state to the surprise of pro-repatriation European museums.

‘I feel sorry for the Europeans’

Prince Aghatise Erediauwa of Benin, the younger brother of the Oba, has insisted that Cambridge respect his wishes.

He told the Telegraph: “I feel sorry for the Europeans who have been duped and received promises about the artefacts from those who should not have been claiming the Bronzes.”

He added: “Cambridge should most definitely return the artefacts. The Oba of Benin is the legitimate owner.

“The president of Nigeria has recognised this.

“I understand they are hesitating, but they must return the artefacts. They must now do the right thing, and return the artefacts to the right people.”

Cambridge holds 116 Bronzes in its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology,  which have faced demands for repatriation. Oxford’s museum collection and the more than 900 housed in the British museum have also been the subject of debate.

The Telegraph has been told that the Benin royal household became concerned when a third party, Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, began negotiating terms for the repatriation of Bronzes from Western museums.

The commission wanted returned artefacts to be housed in the Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA) that it plans to build in Benin City. It is the capital of the former Kingdom of Benin, once looted by the British in an expedition that eventually led to the Bronzes being dispersed around the world.

Cambridge, Oxford and the Horniman Museum in London agreed to repatriate in 2022, taking their lead from institutions in Germany. 

But the Oba of Benin was concerned about the deals. He had already put forward his own plans for a Royal Museum in which the Bronzes could be housed, and saw the EMOWAA as an interloper. 

Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria, subsequently ruled that returned Bronzes would become the property of the Oba. But Cambridge paused its repatriation plans after concerns were raised that publicly displayed objects could disappear into a monarch’s private collection.

The EMOWAA later withdrew from pursuing any plans to house the Bronzes.

The Horniman decided to press ahead despite this, and Oxford’s plans were paused by the Charity Commission, which ensures that universities do not undermine their charitable mission by giving away assets.

Cambridge was given go-ahead to return Bronzes in January 2023 after the deal was vetted by the Charity Commission, but delayed its plan in May and has not sent back any artefacts. University paused repatriation plan after it

The university stated: “The University of Cambridge is in talks with all parties in Nigeria over the implementation of the Council’s decision to return Benin Bronzes in its collections.”