The Government of the Republic of Benin has extended the detention of Yoruba Nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho by six months.
Counsel for the detained activist, Chief Yomi Aliyyu, said this on Sunday night.
This is contrary to what the activist’s former lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said on Friday that Igboho would soon be released.
Aliyyu said the Benin Republic renewed Ignoho’s incarceration despite that there was no criminal charge against him and no extradition request from the Nigerian Government.
He said, “Contrary to what was speculated in the news by a lawyer, the government of the Republic de Benin has renewed the incarceration of Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Igboho Oosa for another six months even though there is no criminal charge in their file in Cotonou and without extradition request from Nigeria.”
Asked if his client would take any step to challenge the extension of his detention, Aliyyu said he would approach the court of the Economic Community of West African States.
“We will approach the ECOWAS Court which they never obeyed,” he added.
Olajengbesi, who secured the release of 12 Igboho’s aides arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service, had in a Facebook post on Friday that Igboho would be released soon and that his freedom would attract wild jubilation across Yorubaland.
It read, “Chief Sunday Igboho will be out very soon and there will be massive jubilation across the entire Yorubaland.
“He is no doubt a courageous man. This is very authoritative just that our Yoruba leaders should stop being selfish and allow good to prevail.”
Igboho, who escaped from a deadly raid on his Ibadan residence by the operatives of the Department of State Service on July 1, 2021 was arrested in Benin Republic on his way to Germany on July 19 together with his wife, Ropo.
His wife was released but Igboho has been in detention since then and if the extension of his incarceration is allowed to stay, he may spend at least one year in detention in that country.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), has said that the Federal Government will bring back Igboho to Nigeria after his prosecution in Benin Republic.
The AGF spoke on Monday on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.
Declared wanted by the Department of State Services for allegedly stockpiling arms to destabilise Nigeria, an allegation he denied, Igboho escaped to the neighbouring francophone country in July 2021.
However, luck ran out on him and he was arrested by the Interpol at a Benin airport when he tried to board a Germany-bound flight.
He had since been remanded in a prison in Benin Republic for over six months where he is said to be facing trial for immigration-related offences, among others.
Commenting on Igboho’s ordeal on Monday, Malami said the case is a matter being prosecuted at the foreign country on account of breaching laws in Benin Republic.
The AGF said, “We’ll allow the law of a nation that was indeed breached takes its natural cause and then perhaps indeed thereafter bring him (Igboho) back home after the conclusion of the trial for the purpose of facing the Nigerian law that was accordingly breached.
“The position of things is that we are not interfering in aborting the existing prosecution in the foreign land.”
The Punch
