A fire which started wee hours, Friday, has razed a section of the palace of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo.
The monarch and his family are safe, no life lost, however the cost of damages could not be ascertained as at press time.
The fire which started around 1.30 am, destroyed the reception hall on the ground floor of a one-storey building located within the premises.
The hall is normally a beehive of activities as this is the place where the monarch usually receives subjects.
Eyewitness believe that the fire outbreak was caused by a power surge shortly after the Power Holding Company of Nigeria restored electricity to the area.
A source said that but for the timely intervention of firemen the scenario would have been more horrific, as the Oba was said to be resting in the building when the incident occurred, but residents of the palace were said to have ferried him to safety.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa and the Commissioner for Information, Yusuf Olaniyonu, were at the palace to commiserate with the king and promised that the state government would rehabilitate the burnt section of the palace.