Lawyers of arrested Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, have revealed that the Nigerian government is yet to arrive at charges that could lead to his extradition from Benin Republic.
They said this after he appeared at Cour D’Appel De Cotonou on Thursday.
According to Igboho’s lawyers, contrary to insinuations, the hearing revealed that there was no extradition agreement between Nigeria and Benin Republic.
A statement by Communications Manager, Ilana Omo Oodua, Maxwell Adeleye, quoted the lawyers as saying that the case had been adjourned till Monday.
The statement was titled, ‘Update on Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho’s case in Benin Republic’.
The lawyer also revealed that the court adjourned the case to give Nigeria more opportunity to bring evidence against the rights activist.
The statement read, “Yesterday, the court set Mrs. Adeyemo, lgboho’s wife free since it has been found that she has committed no offence and there’s no complaints whatsoever against her. Consequently, her German passport was returned to her.
“The lawyers handling the case reported after the proceedings that Chief Sunday Adeyemo lgboho cannot be extradited to Nigeria for two principal reasons:
“That contrary to insinuations, Nigeria and Benin have no Extradition Agreement.
“That Nigeria has not been able to come up with charges that could lead the court to order lgboho’s extradition to Nigeria.
“What Nigerian Government came up with were mere allegations against Ighoho such as trafficking in arms and inciting violence that could result in the social disturbance without evidence which the Government of Benin Republic considered spurious and untenable, and insufficient to warrant extradition.
“Lastly, the case has been adjourned till Monday 26th July to allow the Nigerian Government bring up whatever evidence they may have, and Mr. lgboho has been taken back to the police custody.”
