National Chairman of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof Wale Adeniran, on Tuesday, confirmed that Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, is still being detained in Benin Republic.
Adeniran stated this in his reaction to reports that Igboho has been released and had jetted out of the country.
Ighoho was arrested at the airport in Benin’s capital, Cotonou, on Monday evening, when he alongside his wife attempted to board a plane to Germany.
Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Emeritus Professor Banji Akintoye, who confirmed Igboho’s arrest in a statement on Tuesday, said Yoruba patriots are “currently working to provide assistance for Ighoho to prevent his extradition into Nigeria,” adding, “Leading lawyers in Benin Republic are now in charge”.
But Adeniran told PUNCH that the lawyer was asked to meet Igboho on Wednesday.
“It is very true. He is still held in Benin Republic and lawyers are not allowed to see him yet,” he said.
Adeniran, a former Director of Institute of African Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said lawyers have given the assurance that Igboho cannot be extradited.
Adeniran, during a Zoom conversation organised by Heritage Multimedia TV, said, “I have just spoken with his lawyer. The lawyer has visited the location where he (Igboho) is been held.
“He was not allowed to see him (Igboho) but they confirmed to him that they are holding him in that location.
“He was asked to come back tomorrow (Wednesday) by 8:00am to see him.
“I asked him that hope they are not going to play a funny game of secretly extraditing him, the lawyer told me it is not possible.
“We filed an application for political asylum for him over a week ago. With that in process, he cannot be legally extradited from Benin republic. I am very confident about that.
“I handle the application myself with the immigration lawyer and he assured me that since that application has been filed, he cannot be extradited. I think we should be assured that he will have the opportunity to see him tomorrow.
“Why should people be putting out false information that he has been released which is injurious to this struggle and to the welfare and wellbeing of igboho?”
The Department of State Services had on July 1 raided Igboho’s Ibadan, Oyo State, residence, killing two persons in a gun duel and arresting 12 others.
DSS later said Igboho had escaped, but they found military and other weapons.