TheCable

The extradition proceedings of Sunday Igboho, Yoruba nation agitator, suffered a setback on Wednesday as Benin Republic authorities failed to bring him before a court sitting in Cotonou.

Igboho is being held by Brigade Criminelle in Cotonou after he was arrested at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou, Republic of Benin, with his wife on their way to Germany on Monday night.

He was declared wanted by the Department of State Services earlier in July after his Ibadan house was raided on July 1, 2021 by the operatives of the DSS.

Two people were killed by the DSS in the late night raid while 12 other persons were arrested and later paraded in Abuja. They have since been charged to court.

TheCable reported on Wednesday that some Yoruba living in and around Cotonou thronged the court awaiting the commencement of the trial.

There are no clear reasons why the proceedings did not commence yesterday. Ropo, Igboho’s wife, who was arrested with him at the airport, is a German citizen.

Igboho had filed for political asylum in Germany before his arrest.

Yomi Alliyu, his lawyer, had said the Extradition Treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin does not include political fugitives.