Sunday Igboho
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ibrahim Salami, one of the lawyers of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has said the activist might be released by the Cour D’Appal De Cotonou on Monday (tomorrow).
The law professor made this known in an interview with BBC Yoruba over the weekend.
Salami, who is one of the Cotonou, Benin Republic-based lawyers of Sunday Igboho, further disclosed that the Yoruba rights activist has two more stages to undergo before he will be freed.
The lawyer, however, complained that the police in the Benin Republic handcuffed the hands of Igboho five days after his arrest.
Salami said, “In Benin here, there are three stages (judicial protocol) of trial. The first is with the prosecutor, the second one is with the investigative judge and the third will determine whether he is guilty and should be sentenced or not.
“The next case is on Monday. The first phase with the prosecutor has been concluded. When we get to court on Monday, we will be facing the investigative judge, and after that, we will face the judge that will determine whether he should be jailed or not,” the lawyer stated.
Salami, when asked if the process would end on Monday, added, “Yes, it will end on Monday. Before the end of Monday, we will know if the Benin Republic government wants to jail or release him. That will be clear on Monday.”
The lawyer further warned Sunday Igboho’s supporters to stay away from the court proceedings on Monday, adding that Nigeria has no legal means to get the activist extradited.
Salami said, “When we went to court on Thursday, we had a large turnout of Igboho’s supporters. I frowned at their action. They should stay at home and let us do our job. Igboho is accused of causing disorderliness and civil unrest. If they are now mobilising to court, it may send a wrong signal. They should support him with prayers from home.
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“There is no accord between Nigeria and Benin that allows Benin to extradite Igboho to Nigeria. He can only be extradited on political grounds. In that regard, the law won’t apply,” the lawyer said.
EKO HOT BLOG had earlier reported that the Beninese court adjourned Sunday Igboho’s case till Monday.
It was gathered that the case was adjourned last Thursday after his five lawyers failed to convince the prosecutor that he had no case to answer.
The Beninese authorities, however, released Ropo, the wife of the Yoruba Nation agitator, who was arrested with the 48-year-old activist on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, the Benin Republic while attempting to flee to Germany.
Ropo was released after the court found out that she had not committed any offence.
On his part, the embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, was returned to the custody of Brigade Criminelle in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
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