Sunday Igboho's lawyer says he will live in Benin Republic or France until Buhari leaves office

YORUBA Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo is now planning to apply for political asylum in France and the Republic of Benin and stay in whichever country grants him a right of residency until the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure and then return to Nigeria.

Mr Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, fled Nigeria after his Ibadan home was raided by security forces on July 1, where they killed two of his aides and arrested a further 13. He subsequently turned up in Benin Republic but was arrested at Cotonou airport while he was trying to board a plane to Germany and is currently being charged with an array of immigration offences.

Nigeria is desperately trying to get Mr Igboho extradited but his lawyers are fighting the extradition and are confident that his application for asylum in the UK should weigh in his favour. It is believed that Benin Republic is not ready to engage in a diplomatic crisis with Nigeria, so may succumb to pressure and hand Mr Igboho over but his  lawyers say that will be against international law.

Olusegun Falola, one of Mr Igboho's lawyers, said that his client would not return to Nigeria until President Buhari leaves office. He added that his client’s continued stay in Benin Republic is a blessing in disguise.

Mr Falola added: “Igboho’s arrest shows he was cheated because he didn’t commit any criminal offence and he is under Benin Republic’s protection. Nigeria did not show up in court or bring up evidence against Igboho, so there are no criminal charges against him.

"When he leaves prison, he’ll demand asylum from other countries including France and they will be ready to receive him. So he’ll return back to Nigeria when the administration that is against him leaves office."

According to Mr Falola, when Mr Igboho appeared in court, the judges asked him if he had land in Cotonou and he responded that he has a plot of land in Seme. He added that as a result, Mr Igboho will stay in Benin Republic and do his businesses in the country and also use it as a base from which to travel to Germany where he family lives.