Leader of the Umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Professor Banji Akintoye, has revealed the circumstances that led to the arrest and detention of a prominent Yoruba Nation’s agitation, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is behind the ugly incident.
Akintoye, in a viral video, said that the determination of Buhari’s government is to arrest Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic and be illegally brought in the same way Nnamdi Kanu was repatriated from Kenya.
He pointed out that the Federal Government had perfected its plan against Sunday Igboho, noting that the Federal Government has stationed an helicopter around Cadjehoun International Airport, expected to be used in smuggling Sunday Igboho to Nigeria, so as to ruthlessly deal with him.
Akintoye further cleared the air concerning the release of Sunday Igboho, saying that Igboho was not granted conditional release on health ground.
Akintoye said that he was released unconditional due to the intervention of some Yoruba leaders including himself, Professors Wole Soyinka and Wale Adeniran.
His words, “Today is the day of joy for the Yoruba people. I congratulate all the Yoruba. We have started and we will continue. We know where we are going now. Igboho spent about six months in prison in Republic of Benin. About 10 minutes when he was arrested in Cotonou, people called me that Sunday has been arrested at the Airport in Cotonou. We immediately phoned a lawyer that we know to stand immediately, around 9pm to go and look for him and found out where he has been detained. He heeded our instruction with his lieutenants.
“He entered his presence at the police station where Sunday was detained and told them that he was the lawyer of Sunday that was arrested at the airport. That was what frustrated the plan of Nigerian government to kidnap him back to Nigeria. If not that, Federal Government’s helicopter that has been deployed from Nigeria to convey Sunday back was already positioned at the back of the airport. The Federal Government was to bring Sunday back to Nigeria from Republic of Benin the same way Nnamdi Kanu was brought from Kenya.
“God laid it in our hearts to get a lawyer at that moment. That was what prevented the repatriation of Sunday back to Nigeria. In the morning, lawyers went to where he has been detained and followed him to court and that was how case started in court. We have been on it since then. Sunday did not commit any crime in Benin Republic. It was a lie that he entered Republic of Benin with wrong documentations. He duly entered Benin Republic with legal documents. Then, we did not know why he was arrested but now we know Federal Government is behind his arrest. We have settled the problem with the government of Benin Republic. God has helped us. But we have seen a lot within the six months that Sunday was detained in Benin Republic. Some people are using the case to make money.
Again, some people said that he is sick. it is a lie. He is fine. Some said that he was released because he is sick. It is a lie. He is sound in health. He is fine. The intervention of Professor Wole Soyinka and other eminent Yoruba people in Benin Republic made the release of Sunday possible. Government of Benin Republic called us specially and we met with them. We have started meeting the government of Benin Republic since December and we thank God, it has yielded a positive result.”
