FG’s perceived brutality scares Igboho, applies for asylum in Benin Rep

The Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, a.k.a. Sunday Igboho, has become scared of the perceived ‘brutality’ of the Nigerian Government, through the Department of State Services (DSS), on his arrival in Nigeria from Benin Republic, has countered the legal action of the Nigerian government seeking his extradition. Igboho has, therefore, applied for asylum in Benin Republic, to forestall his extradition to Nigeria.

The DSS had declared Igboho wanted, issuing  international warrant of arrest on the Yoruba activist. Igboho is currently being prosecuted for immigration offences in Cotonou.

Igboho was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on Monday, July 19, 2021.

He was arrested with his wife, Ropo, resident in Germany, at the airport as they were about to board a flight to Germany last Monday.

The Cour De’appal De Cotonou had in its judgment on Thursday decided that Ropo should be released unconditionally since there were no charges against her. However, Igboho was kept in a police cell in Cotonou.

Igboho was alleged to be caught with a fake Beninois passport at the departure point to Germany through an Air France flight.

It was gathered that application for political refugee has been completed for Igboho in Germany. His supporters were said to have made another application for asylum in Benin Republic for the Yoruba Nation activist.

There’s pressure on Beninois Government to drop the migration offence charges  against Igboho on the alleged passport forgery.

The lead counsel to Igboho, Yomi Alliyu (SAN), was said to have argued in a statement that Benin cannot extradite Igboho because the 1984 Extradition Treaty between Nigeria, Benin Republic and two other countries excluded political refugees like Igboho from extradition in the West African sub-region