Gbenro Adesina
The Cour De’appal De Cotonou, Benin Republic, on Monday July 26, 2021, has ruled that a notable Yoruba activist, fighting for the creation of Yoruba Nation in Nigeria, Chief Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho be remanded in prison custody in the country, pending the determination of the criminal charges levied against him.
According to one of the embattled activist’s lawyers, based in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Barrister Ibrahim Salami, the ruling of the court was shocking because it was not base on the allegations levied against Sunday Igboho, which the court is expected to deliver judgement on.
Salami explained, “The case levied against Sunday Igboho by the Federal Government of Nigeria is arms trafficking, inciting violence, causing disunity and attempting to break Nigeria. As a result, the Government of Nigeria wants him to be extradited to Nigeria and that is what we are fighting against”.
He explained further that instead of the court to rule on this, it stated that it discovered that Sunday Igboho is involving in criminal activities in Benin Republic and on that basis, he has to be remanded in the prison custody pending the proving of the veracity of this fresh allegation.
“Initially, the prosecutor said that Sunday Igboho did not commit any crime in Benin Republic. He said that he is being tried on the allegations levied against him by the government of Nigeria. Right now, the judge told us that he is being tried on different allegations. He said he is now being tried on criminal charges. As things are now, Sunday Igboho does not have a case with Nigeria but with the Republic of Benin. The case now is Sunday Igboho versus Government of Benin Republic”.
Salami noted that it is not easy for a stranger to commit a crime in Benin Republic, adding, “We are nine lawyers defending Sunday Igboho. Three of us understand Yoruba. We were surprised at the ruling because what happened was like a magic. In my years of practice, I have not seen this kind of a twist in the court. We were in court because we wanted to stop the extradition of Sunday Igboho to Nigeria, where the government is attempting to kill him. To commit a crime in Benin, such a person must have lived in Benin for some years. Sunday Igboho is not living in Benin. He only wanted to travel to Germany through Benin Republic. He did not stay for a day. Well, we are lawyers in Benin and we will continue to help Sunday Igboho so that he can be released from the prison and travel to Germany that he wants to go”.
However, the court has granted him access to medical care and he will also be allowed to have access to his wife and legal team.
According to Salami, he will be given better treatment in the prison custody, adding that already, handcuff has been removed from his hands.
