Benin Republic authorities renew Sunday Igboho's detention order for another six months

YORUBA  Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo looks set to spend six more months in detention after the authorities in Benin Republic renewed his detention order under pressure from the Nigerian government.

On July 1 last year, Mr Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, fled after his Ibadan home was raided by Nigerian 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.

Since then, the matter has been in court as the Beninoise authorities have charged  Mr Igboho with several immigration offences but the Nigerian government wants him deported. However, the Nigerian government has been unable to field any specific criminal charges against Mr Igboho, putting the Beninoise authorities in a difficult position.

On the one hand the authorities are having to deal with pressure from the Nigerian government and on the other, they have to cope with the agitation for Mr Igboho's release from their local Yoruba community. Yorubas are the third largest ethnic group in Benin Republic with a total population of about 1.7m.

Earlier today, Chief Yomi Alliyu, Mr Igboho's lawyer, revealed that the Beninese government has concluded plans to renew his incarceration by another six months. He noted that although there are no criminal charges or forma; extradition requests against his client, the Beninese government has taken steps to keep Mr Igboho in detention.

Chief Alliyu 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 their file in Cotonou and without an extradition request from Nigeria.”

On Thursday, July 21 last year, Mr Igboho was arraigned before the Cour D’Appel De Cotonou. At the hearing, the court ordered that he should be remanded in a facility in the country pending the conclusion of the investigations against him.