Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana SAN, has disclosed that the Benin Republic government insisted on following the rule of law when its Nigerian counterpart approach it on the immediate repatriation of Sunday Igboho, the self-styled Yoruba Nation activist.
According to Falana, in an interview with BBC News Yoruba published on Tuesday, the Benin government refused to put Sunday Igboho on a waiting plane during the time of his arrest in the French-speaking country in July.
He said the administration of President Patrice Talon made the Muhammadu Buhari-led Government to understand that obeying the law is sacrosanct to them.
“The Nigerian government asked the Benin Republic government to repatriate Sunday Igboho. In fact, we heard they had even sent an aircraft to be used to bring him down to Abuja. The Benin government made its Nigerian counterpart to understand that this is not a lawless society,” Falana said while speaking in Yoruba language.
“Benin Republic told Nigeria: ‘we are heading to court. Without us going to court, we cannot hand Igboho over to you’. This is the reason why Igboho’s case is ongoing over there. And that is how it is supposed to be under the law.
“The judge will critically look into Nigeria’s demands, why Nigeria wants to repatriate Igboho from Cotonou to Abuja. That is what the law of Benin says; in fact that is what the Nigerian law also says.”
Igboho was the arrowhead of a movement tackling herdsmen, who were terrorising farmers and rural dwellers, particularly in Ibarapa area of Oyo State.
He has been declared wanted by the FG after escaping a DSS raid on his residence.
