Sunday Igboho rushed to hospital in Benin Republic with suspected organ failure

YORUBA Nation campaigner Sunday Adeyemo has been rushed to hospital in the Republic of Benin where he is currently being detained amid fears that he has a possible major kidney or lung illness.

Mr Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho fled Nigeria on July 1 this year after his Ibadan home was raided by security forces who killed two of his aides and arrested a further 13. Mr Igboho subsequently turned up in Benin Republic but was arrested at Cotonou airport while he was trying to board a plane to Germany and is now in court facing several immigration charges.

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.

In a major twist to the saga today, Yomi Aliyu, one of Mr Igboho's lawyers, said that his client developed the illness in prison custody. He added that Mr Igboho who is critically ill, was subsequently rushed to hospital for treatment.

Mr Aliyu said: “Igboho was not diagnosed with this sickness before he was arrested in Cotonou, so it was so critical that they had to rush him to the hospital. I can’t tell if he has been returned to the prison from the hospital but what I know is, he’s battling ill health and it seems his kidney and lungs are already being affected.

“Even though I cannot tell which part of his body the sickness has really affected, I know it has to do with his internal organs.”

Maxwell Adeleye, a spokesman for Yoruba self-determination group Ilana Omo Oodua, added: “Yes, he is ill and his kidney appears affected, although we are not very sure yet. Another test result is expected for confirmation but we are working on that and I can assure you that he is in safe hands.

“Expect our reaction soon. However, the government should be warned that nothing must happen to Igboho.”