Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Ighoho, has hired a top Beninise lawyer identified as Rafael Huvehnou to handle his case.

Huvehnou is currently an attorney to the president of Benin Republic, where Igbo’s trial started yesterday, Thursday, July 22, 2021.

Igboho was arrested on Monday night at the Cadjèhoun Airport, Cotonou with a “fake” Beninoise passport while trying to flee to Germany.

Spirited efforts by the Federal Government of Nigeria to fasttrack his extradition might have suffered setback as he first has to be tried for allegedly obtaining a fake Beninise international passport in Cotonou.

Sources informed that authorities in the neighbouring West African country are insisting on fair trial for Igboho on immigration offence before considering the request of the Nigerian government for his extradition.

The couple was arraigned at the Cour De’appeal De Cotonou for immigration-related offences. While adjourning the matter till today, the court ordered Igboho to remain in prison custody. The court, however, ordered the release of his wife.

A source said: “Igboho had given a statement to the police. He was travelling with a Beninoise passport adjudged to be fake.”

Igboho’s lawyer, Yomi Aliyu (SAN), while speaking on the development, said: “The wife has been released and given her passport. The Nigerian government did not file anything on extradition; it just filed to give information to the court that he is wanted in Nigeria for gun running and some other offences.

“They only filed information for the court to keep him in custody while they file charges against him.

“They just want the court to help them ensure he doesn’t leave Cotonou and help them keep him in custody and no court would do that.”

It was gathered that the Beninise government said it would not handle a request for extradition without first trying Igboho for the offence he was arrested for.

The Nigerian government, through its ambassador to Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai, had mounted pressure on the Beninise government to extradite Igboho to Nigeria.

It was gathered that the former Chief of Army Staff wrote two letters to the government of the West African country, where he insisted on the arrest and extradition of Igboho.

Buratai had in the letters described the activist as a terrorist and murderer.

A source said: “Nigeria had written two letters to the West African state, describing Igboho as a terrorist and murderer. The first letter was written on July 7. A second letter, describing his bodily features, was passed on to Benin Republic authorities on Wednesday.”

•Adapted from a Nigerian Tribune report.