The government of Republic of Benin has resisted an attempt by the government of Muhammadu Buhari to extradite Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho, to the headquarters of the Department of State Services in Abuja without proper extradition trial.
It was gathered that the Buhari government planned to extradite the activist on Wednesday, but Benin Republic insisted that it would not be part of any process that was against due process.
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PUNCH quoted a security sources of Benin Republic as saying that the country rejected the idea hasty extradition.
“The Nigerian government planned to extradite him on Wednesday, but our government said the rule of law must be followed as the world is watching us.”
One of the lawyers of Igboho, Pelumi Olajengbesi, in an interview with PUNCH said Benin Republic had shown itself to be a country that respects the rule of law and due process.
The lawyer said Igboho’s legal team in Benin Republic were in talks with the Beninise government.
He noted that despite pressure from the Nigerian government, the government of Benin had insisted on following due process including a repatriation hearing to determine whether or not Igboho was guilty as accused by the Nigerian secret police.
Recall that DSS on February 26, 2021, reportedly attempted to arrest Igboho along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the activist and his supporters were on their way to meet with the 93-year-old Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo, but pandemonium broke out and the DSS was unable to arrest him.
However, the secret police raided Igboho’s residence in the Soka area of Ibadan on July 1, 2021, arrested at least 12 of his associates and killed two others during the bloody raid.
Igboho escaped the raid and the secret police subsequently declared him wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms to destabilise Nigeria under the pretext of the Yoruba nation agitation, but Igboho denied the allegation.
The activist, who went underground, was, however, apprehended by Interpol at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic on Monday night.
Igboho and his wife, Ropo, were arrested while trying to catch a flight to Germany.
