Why Benin files another charges against Igboho – Lawyer

*As presiding judge says he'll be investigated for breaching Benin Republic rules

By Idowu Ajigboteso

THE government of Benin Republic has filed another charges against the leader of Yoruba nation agitators, Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho. As the presiding chief judge said that Igboho was not arrested because he committed an offence. But he was arrested for breaching the rules of Benin Republic and he should be investigated.

One of Igboho’s lawyers, Ibrahim Salami, said this during an interview with BBC Yoruba; adding that Igboho was confronted with another charges when he appeared in court on Monday.

He stated that the presiding judge ordered that Igboho should be remanded in Beninese police custody to allow police conduct a thorough investigation into another charges levied against him, which included illegal migration, connivance with immigration officers and an attempt to cause civil unrest.

According to Salami: “The judge wanted to know how Sunday Igboho entered into the Benin Republic. The also wanted to know how long he has been in Benin Republic, his plans in the country, whether he wants to come and cause unrest or social disturbance in the country.”

Speaking further during the interview, Salami said: “Igboho denied all the allegations charges against him by the Nigerian government, that he was involved in trafficking of arms and inciting violence.

“Igboho told judge that he was put on a watchlist by the Nigerian government for fighting against killer herdsmen.”

“Igboho explained that what was said about him by the Nigerian government are false.

“He explained that he did not do anything illegal in Nigeria. He clarified that Nigeria has never charged him to a court or jailed him for any offence, he was never arrested for any offence or invited to Police Station.

“Igboho said he never had any criminal record in Nigeria. He told the judge that the Nigerian government was after him because he was defending the Yoruba race against killer Fulani herdsmen.

“He said that he ran away from Nigeria because the government was after his life.

“He was asked when he got to Benin, how he got in and how long. Igboho replied that he left Nigeria on Sunday, got to Benin on Monday and attempted to leave Monday night to Germany before he was arrested.

“The judge asked him where he stayed, who drove him and how he escaped security checks. He replied.

“What is surprising is that the judge said he was not arrested because he committed an offence. He said he breached Benin rules and he should be investigated.”

Igboho who appeared in court last Thursday and Monday, was arrested with his wife, Ropo, on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin on their way to Germany.

No date fixed for hearing

Also corroborating Igboho’s lawyer’s assertions, a source familiar with the case, said that the allegations by the Federal Government had been struck out by the Beninese court but noted that further investigations would be carried out to ascertain how Igboho entered the country and those who collaborated with him.

The source said: "He has been returned to  prison for the police to continue with their investigations.

"Let me make certain things clear. All that have been happening all along have been about extradition but the court made it clear that he was not arrested for committing any crime in Benin Republic.

"He was arrested because the Nigerian government tipped them off that there was a criminal in Benin Republic.

"They picked him up at the airport, then Nigeria brought up the charges against him and said they do not operate by another country’s law. They said they would carry out their investigations to find out whether he has broken any of their laws.

"As of yesterday (Monday), what the court said was that having carried out its investigations; he has not committed any crime against them.

"But they found that he entered their country through the black market route and the government of Benin Republic also said it will find out whether Igboho has come to cause civil unrest in their country, as alleged by the Nigerian government.

"Those are the two issues it intends to investigate. But as far as they are concerned, there is nothing like any criminal record against him.

"If he has committed any crime in Benin Republic, he will be tried but if he has not, he will be allowed to go."

On the next court hearing, the source said: “There is no date for court hearing now. The way their courts work here is different.

“Some of the judges are not real judges. Some are for investigations, while others are specialized in other areas.

So, they will return him to prison and find out if he has committed any offence in Benin Republic or whether he has broken any of their laws. If he has not committed any crime, he will be let go.”

Stop pressurising Benin Republic to jail Ighoho — Yoruba group

Meanwhile, a Yoruba self-determination group, Yoruba Koya Liberation Movement, YKLM, yesterday, warned the Federal Government to stop pressurizing the Beninese authorities to extradite Ighoho to Nigeria.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Communications, Oluwafemi Oluwajuyitan, the group said no oppressor had ever triumphed over the collective will of the people, adding that other Nigerian leaders putting political pressure on Benin Republic to jail Ighoho should remember that nothing lasts forever.

The statement read: "Events unfolding in recent times have made it imperative to remind those who currently wield power to tread softly and remember that everything with a start will surely have an end.

"Recent event only reminds one that in the face of suppression of truth and oppression of the masses, the oppressors have always consistently lost at the end.

"One cannot help but remember the brutish rule and reign of Gen. Sani Abacha and how he ruled with an iron fist. We remember how individuals, who stood for the truth and the declaration of the June 12 elections, were hounded by state-sponsored hitmen. We remember how the dictator ended in ignominy.

“The present administration, being a democratically elected government, has surpassed previous military juntas in the bare-knuckled use of brute force to silence every voice of dissent.

“More worrisome is the rate of nepotism and a barely veiled attempt to lord an ethnic group over others. The dual law being applied by the state is also a cause for concern as bandits, terrorists and kidnappers in certain parts of the country are treated to sumptuous dinners with state actors, while agitators for self-determination of their people are hounded and treated as common criminals.

"The Gestapo invasion of Chief Sunday Igboho’s house, the killing and abduction of his associates and his eventual arrest in Benin Republic at the request of this government are a testament of its effort at ensuring that their lawlessness remains unchecked.

"We, as a Yoruba self-determination group, see it is time that this government and its actors of impunity are reminded that nothing lasts forever. Nigerians are in the countdown to the end of this administration, even as calls are made to the International Criminal Court to keep the dossier of reports sent to them as they will become useful in no distant future.”