Diplomatic stalemate in Benin over Igboho’s detention, extradition

The protesters, who also carried placards bearing solidarity messages for Igboho and condemnation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for selective justice and favouring his ethnic nationality above other groups in Nigeria, appealed to the international community, traditional rulers in Yoruba land and others to ensure that the activist is not hounded like a common criminal to Nigeria.

The protesters gathered in front of Igboho’s house in the Soka area of Ibadan from where they took to the streets around 12 noon. They were singing the Yoruba nation anthem and chanting “Igboho Oosa”, “Free Igboho now,” while calling on Yoruba leaders and the international community to fight for his release.

Mr. Yomi Aliyu (SAN), lawyer to Igboho, yesterday narrated how the freedom fighter was arrested in Cotonou and was to be flown to Nigeria on a waiting helicopter. Aliyu, who spoke during a radio talk programme on Rave FM, tagged Frank Talk, said one of Igboho’s brothers travelling with him before he was arrested was the one bundled into the plane heading to Germany, not Sunday.

Describing how the freedom fighter was arrested, he said Sunday was already in the plane with his wife and brother when someone pointed him out that he was wanted and was forced out of the plane along with his wife and brother by security operatives.

“Sunday was brought down with the wife and brother and a fracas ensued because he was to be flown to Nigeria by a standby helicopter. But the wife and the brother put up a fight and started shouting at the airport, which attracted some other Yoruba indigenes and they came to their rescue.”

He added that his line of communication with Igboho is indirect and deliberately decided not to travel to the country to avoid being embarrassed.

“We know who is heading the police, who is the High Commissioner on Cotonou. I can’t go to that area now, but I speak with him indirectly anytime I want to speak with him.

“I have been speaking with him through somebody that should know.

“I don’t belong to any group: neither Afenifere nor Oodua Nation. I am directly appointed by Sunday not for any group, not for Oodua group, not for Afenifere or anybody.

Some of the placards the protesters displayed read: “I stand with Chief Sunday Igboho”; “Sunday Igboho is not a criminal”; “Yoruba wake up” and “Sunday Igboho is fighting for our freedom.” One of the protesters, in a chat with newsmen, warned the Federal Government not to kill Igboho the way Chief MKO Abiola was allegedly killed.

The protesters later proceeded to the streets of Ibadan, calling for Igboho’s freedom. They said since Igboho has not committed any crime or killed anyone; he should not be subjected to the treatment he is going through.

“We call on our Southwest governors and Yoruba monarchs to rise up and fight for the people that put them in position. It is not a crime if someone is asking for an end to oppression. The Federal Government is pushing too far in the way it is handling the issues of Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu.”

The protesters blocked Soka junction road, with hundreds of motorists caught in the traffic. They also blocked some sections of the road, which led to gridlock around the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Some motorists who were conversant with the road had to take alternative routes to avoid the area.

According to a resident, Musbau Ogunbiyi, “around 1:50 pm, the policemen came in about four patrol vans and a car. They shot in the air and chased away the protesters. They stationed themselves at strategic positions at the location. After clearing the traffic, they stayed for a while before they left around 4:00 pm.”

Also in Republic of Benin, some Yoruba people residing in Cotonou thronged the nation’s court, where it is believed the extradition hearing of Igboho will be held.

In a video on the Facebook page of Olayomi Koiki, Igboho’s media aide, the Yoruba in Cotonou were seen singing solidarity song and demanding freedom for Igboho. They also demanded an independent nation of the Yoruba people. They said they have confidence in the Benin Republic justice system, expressing optimism that Igboho will be freed.

He said: “Apparently, Igboho was not properly advised. If you are fleeing Nigeria, it is ill advised to go through Benin Republic. He ought to have gone through Niger and find his way to Europe but not through Benin Republic. That is why he is liable to be extradited. Even if there is no extradition treaty, it can also depend on the political relationship. Extradition is, however, a political matter, though people think it is legal.”

Former dean, Faculty of Law, Abia State University (ABSU), Prof. Sampson Erugo (SAN) explained that extradition involves returning a person accused of a serious crime or convicted for such crime, from one jurisdiction to another, as part of the criminal process.

“Again, there are several conditions for the presentation of an extradition process. For instance, the acts alleged must constitute an offence in the host jurisdiction. Of course, politically motivated requests cannot be processed or granted. Extradition is the only legitimate process of returning a fugitive or one accused of crime from one jurisdiction to another, otherwise the exercise could be an affront to the sovereignty of another nation,” he stated.

Dr. Joshua Bolarinwa, an associate professor at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, said: “A country has the right to extradite from another country somebody who has been alleged of some activities undermining the security of the state or someone who has been declared wanted and also made available to the International Police (INTERPOL).

“It can also be based on the cordial or mutual relationship between countries. All of these would take a long due process and I am aware that the Benin Republic, though a small country, follows the law and is usually compliant to constitutionalism,” he added.

MEANWHILE, more reactions have continued to trail the arrest of Igboho, In his reaction entitled: ‘Sunday Igboho, Federal Government and Us’, former Minister of Defence and National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr. Olu Agunloye, said agitations will not abate until President Buhari adopts principles of social justice that will bring about peace, progress and prosperity to Nigerians.

This latent political determination, now uncaged, can be very useful for positive and productive impacts.

“This is why we can only hope and expect that the government will include in its priority list the principles of social justice comprising equal access, inclusiveness, equity and respect for human rights to assure peace, roundtable conference and integration in Nigeria.”

According to him, “In this Cotonou interception, it will appear that abuse of rule of law and breach of the international process such as extraordinary rendition (also known as GK for Government Kidnapping) won’t be part of bringing Igboho back to Nigeria. This is because the Federal Government has commenced the due process of legal extradition.

President, Women Arise and Centre for Change, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, also raised the alarm that the life of Igboho may be in danger if the Federal Government succeeds in perfecting his extradition. Okei-Odumakin feared that Igboho’s safety could not be guaranteed or given justice if extradited to Nigeria.

In a statement she signed yesterday, she expressed fears that given the “prevailing circumstances” in a situation in which the Nigerian government treats bandits, herdsmen and Boko Haram terrorists with kid gloves; there was no guarantee that Igboho’s safety could be assured.

Adams, in a statement, condemned in strong terms, the arrest of Igboho in Cotonou. He urged the Federal Government not to trivialise issues of agitations, saying the call for the Yoruba nation came to the front burner in Nigeria’s political history as a result of growing injustice, nepotism, corruption and maladministration in the various sectors of the country.

Faulting the manner in which the Federal Government had treated Igboho in recent times, the Yoruba Generalissimo expressed sadness over the way the FG had trampled upon the rights of the activist, declaring that the government must be fair in handling his case and that of other agitators.

Similarly, a youth group, Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association (YYSA) Worldwide, has urged Yoruba leaders and legal advisers to Igboho to intensify efforts in ensuring that he is not extradited.

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists by the National President and Secretary of the group, Hammed Olalekan and Olawale Ajao respectively. The group pointed out that the activist had no past criminal record.