BREAKING: Sunday Igboho to spend 6 more months in Benin prison

Contrary to speculations following the announcement by an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, that Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, will soon be released from detention, the government of the Republic of Benin has renewed his incarceration for another six months.

The renewal came less than two days after Olajengbesi made the announcement though he has since resigned from the team of Nigerian lawyers handling Igboho’s case.

Olajengbesi in a post on Facebook had written that “Chief Sunday Igboho will be out very soon and there will be massive jubilation across the entire Yoruba land. He is no doubt a courageous man. This is very authoritative just that our Yoruba leaders should stop being selfish and allow good to prevail.”

However, counsel to Igboho, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), on Sunday night disclosed that the Benin Republic government has renewed the incarceration without any hearing.

Alliyu noted that though there are no criminal charges or extradition request against Igboho, the Beninese Government has, however, taken steps to keep Igboho in detention.

He said: “Contrary to what was speculated in the news by a lawyer, the government of Benin Republic has renewed the incarceration of Chief Sunday Adeyemo for another six months even though there is no charge in there file in Cotonou and without extradition request from Nigeria.”

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

He had apparently fled Nigeria after a bloody raid on his Soka residence in Ibadan, Oyo State by the Department of State Service (DSS) which accused him of stockpiling arms.

A Beninise court had blocked the extradition move of Igboho to Nigeria while ruling that the activist be remanded in prison pending further hearing.