…Insists Nigerian Government is After His Life for Defending Yoruba People Against Killer Herdsmen

…It’s Better for Igboho to Die in Benin Republic than Being Extradited to Nigeria…Lawyer

Yoruba Nation agitator, Mr Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has denied claims by the Federal Government of Nigeria, that he was involved in arms trafficking or inciting violence.

His lead counsel, Mr Ibrahim Salami, revealed this in an interview with the BBC Yoruba Service on Tuesday.

Salami said Igboho told the judge that he was put on a watchlist by the Nigerian government for fighting against killer herdsmen.

He said, “Igboho explained that what was said about him are false.

“He explained that he didn’t do anything illegal in Nigeria. He clarified that Nigeria government never charged him to a court or jailed him for any Offences. He was never invited to any Police Station.

“Igboho said he never had any criminal records in Nigeria. He told the judge that the Nigerian government was after him, because he was defending the Yoruba race against killer Fulani herdsmen.

“He said that he ran away from Nigeria because the government was after his life.

“He was asked when he got to Benin Republic, how he got in and how long it took him. Igboho replied that he left Nigeria on Sunday, got into Benin on Monday and attempted to leave to Germany on Monday night before he was arrested.

“The judge asked him where he stayed, who drove him and how he escaped security checks. He replied.

“What is surprising, is that the judge said he was not arrested because he committed an offence. He said he breached Benin rules and he should be investigated.”

Igboho appeared in court last Thursday and Monday.

The activist was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, on Monday, July 19, 2021, at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on their way to Germany.

Salami had earlier said Igboho would prefer that he died in Benin Republic than him being handed over to the Nigerian government and vowed that everything would be done to ensure that Igboho is not extradited to Nigeria.

The Beninese Yoruba and law lecturer, told BBC Yoruba: “it is important that Igboho is not extradited to Nigeria under any circumstances.”

“It is better for him to die here in Benin than be extradited to Nigeria,” he said.

“With all that happened in his house and how the army is threatening him, allowing for his extradition will amount to sending him home to death.

“Rather than do that, it would be better to keep him in Benin and kill him than to let him go to Nigeria to be slaughtered like an animal.

“That has been our struggle and agitation here in Benin,” he added.

Igboho, is currently being tried behind closed doors at the Cour D’Appel De Cotonou.

Journalists and his supporters were barred from the court proceeding.

However, his supporters said they were not harassed nor sent out of the court premises.

The Beninese court had last Thursday adjourned Igboho’s case till Monday after his five lawyers failed to convince the prosecutor that he had no case to answer.

The Beninese authorities have, however, released Ropo, the agitator’s wife, who was arrested with the 48-year-old activist on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on their way to Germany. But Igboho was returned to police custody.

Many supporters of the Yoruba Nation agitator had thronged the court on Monday to witness the trial of the activist.

This is despite earlier warnings that Benin Republic courts are not used to large crowds during sittings.

Some of the supporters had arrived in Benin Republic on Sunday with a Yoruba group offering free accommodation.

Contrary to earlier reports that Igboho travelled with a fake Benin Republic passport, his counsel, Salami insisted that only a Nigerian passport was found on the Yoruba rights activist, adding that he was not being tried for possessing a fake passport.

Following the bloody raid on his Sooka residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Department of State Services (DSS) had earlier claimed local and international driving licences in his name, ATM cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name, and a passport were allegedly recovered.

Igonoho’s lawyer however said, “When he left Nigeria, he took the backdoor into Benin. It was at the airport that security operatives stopped him that he was on the watchlist. He didn’t go against any law in Benin Republic. They didn’t find any Beninese passport on him. He had a Nigerian passport with a German residency card. He needed no visa at that point.

“When we understudied the case, we realised that the Nigerian government had not filed a case for extradition. They only claimed that he is wanted in Nigeria for criminal offences. Our argument is that he was arrested because of Nigeria’s request, and there is no proof to show that he is a criminal.”

Meanwhile, the Republic of Benin government has filed fresh charges against Igboho.

Salami disclosed the new charges after Monday night’s hearing when Igboho was ordered to remain in police custody in Benin Republic.

Before the hearing, Salami had said that the legal team was expecting extradition charges from the Nigerian government against the activist. However, he said Igboho was confronted with fresh charges when he appeared in court.

He noted that Igboho was further remanded to allow police conduct a thorough investigation into the charges, which included illegal migration, dubious connivance with immigration officers and an attempt to cause civil unrest.

“First, the judge wanted to know how Sunday Igboho entered into the Benin Republic through an illegal means. They also want to investigate how Sunday Igboho conspired with others to enter Benin Republic through wrong means.

“They also want to know how long he has been in Benin Republic and his plans in the country. They also raised a charge on whether he wants to come and cause unrest or social disturbance in Benin Republic,” the lawyer said in an interview with BBC Yoruba.

Some of the allegations, which he said could not be proved, included trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria.

Supporters of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho thronged the Cour De’appal De Cotononu for his trial.

Yoruba-speaking supporters especially from the southwest and indigenes in Benin Republic said they were in court ahead of the arrival of Igboho, who was arrested in the country last week.

It was learnt that a Yoruba rights group, Isokan Omo Odua, had mobilised supporters for the embattled supporter as a sign of solidarity.

In a BBC Yoruba live update on Monday, the anxious supporters were seen outside the court premises waiting for the arrival of Igboho.

Some others were inside the court patiently sitting for the hearing to commence.

Igboho’s wife, Ropo, and some traditional monarchs were also sighted at the court premises according to the BBC correspondent.

Also, there was no heavy security presence at the entrance of the court.