Punch
The National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Wale Adeniran, has clarified that Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, is still held in Benin Republic.
He said this while reacting to reports that the Yoruba rights activist has been released and had continued his journey to Germany.
The PUNCH had reported that Germany-bound Sunday Ighoho was arrested at the airport in Benin’s capital, Cotonou, on Monday evening.
While confirming Igboho’s arrest, in a statement on Tuesday, the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, said Yoruba patriots are “currently working to provide assistance for Ighoho to prevent his extradition into Nigeria”.
He also said that “leading lawyers in Benin Republic are now in charge”.
But Adeniran, in a chat with The PUNCH, said the lawyer was asked to come and meet Igboho on Wednesday.
“It is very true. He is still held in Benin Republic and lawyers are not allowed to see him yet,” he said.
Adeniran, who was a former Director of Institute of African Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, explained that lawyers have given the assurance that Igboho cannot be extradited.
During a Zoom conversation organised by Heritage Multimedia TV, the pioneer Commissioner of Education in Osun State, said, “I have just spoken with his lawyer. The lawyer has visited the location where he (Igboho) is been held.
“He was not allowed to see him (Igboho) but they confirmed to him that they are holding him in that location.
“He was asked to come back tomorrow (Wednesday) by 8:00am to see him.
“I asked him that hope they are not going to play a funny game of secretly extraditing him, the lawyer told me it is not possible.
“We filed an application for political asylum for him over a week ago. With that in process, he cannot be legally extradited from Benin republic. I am very confident about that.
“I handle the application myself with the immigration lawyer and he assured me that since that application has been filed, he cannot be extradited. I think we should be assured that he will have the opportunity to see him tomorrow.
“Why should people be putting out false information that he has been released which is injurious to this struggle and to the welfare and wellbeing of igboho?”
The Department of State Services had fought an hour-long gun battle during a raid on Igboho’s home in early July, later saying he had escaped but they found military and other weapons and arrested 12 men and one woman.