Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, have mocked Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai, over the failed extradition of the Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Igboho.
He said Buratai’s hasty request to have Igboho back in Nigeria was turned down by the Beninese government which insisted on the rule of law on the matter.
Igboho is currently in detention in the Benin Republic after he was arrested on July 19 in Cotonou while trying to travel to Germany.
Falana, who spoke on Channels Television, said he was confident that the Benin Republic government would follow the rule of law in the matter.
“In the case of Sunday Igboho, again despite my disagreement with him, I came out to say you cannot just throw him into a waiting plane as we were told, it was attempted.
“You have to go to court. You have to make a request under international law, under the ECOWAS convention on extradition.
“The government of Nigeria is requested to submit an extradition request to the government of Benin Republic and so when the plenipotentiary, General Yusuf Buratai (retired), who at that time had not submitted his letters of credence asked that Igboho be handed over to him.
“He was told, ‘sorry, we operate the rule of law here’. That is why that matter is still in court,” Falana said.