The leader of “Yoruba nation” agitators, Sunday Adeyemo Ighoho, has been released from police custody by the Government of Benin Republic on medical grounds.
Igboho’s release came after he was incarcerated for seven months and two weeks in the Francophone country.
Igboho’s counsel, Yomi Alliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), confirmed his release on Monday.
According to him, the Benin Republic government released Igboho from prison to his medical team under the agreement that he should not leave the designated medical centre or Cotonou for any reason.
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“Praises should be given to two prominent Yoruba personalities to wit Prof Wole Soyinka and Prof Akintoye for this turn around in our client’s matter,” Alliyu said.
Earlier on Monday, the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, had in a statement announced Igboho’s release.
Maxwell Adeleye, the Communications Secretary, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), made the announcement in a statement, on Monday.
Adeyeye, who is the spokesman for the “Yoruba nation” agitator, said Igboho was handed over to the leader and founder of IOO, Prof Banji Akintoye, by the Benin Republic government.
Recalled Igboho was arrested in Benin Republic on Monday evening of July 20, 2021, three weeks after he was declared wanted by Nigeria’s secret police.
A campaigner for Yoruba self-determination, Igboho’s arrest was effected in the neighbouring Cotonou, Benin Republic, while trying to travel to Germany.
The country’s local newspaper, Banouto, in its report quoted Beninise authorities as saying Igboho was picked up at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou.
He was “disembarked from his plane, arrested by the Beninese police while he was trying to travel to Germany and then transferred to the Cotonou Criminal Brigade,” local reports said.
Igboho’s release is coming after a lingering court case followed by speculations that he may be extradited to Nigeria to answer to charges against him.
Adeleye, in his statement, described the release of Ighoho as “a Triumph of Truth over Darkness in Yorubaland.”
