Pelumi Olajengbesi, one of the lawyers to Sunday Igboho, says the Federal Government of Nigeria is mounting pressure on its Benin Republic counterpart to deport the Yoruba Nation agitator to Nigeria.
Olajengbesi said that this was being coordinated by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), who is also a former Chief of Army Staff.
Igboho is facing charges bordering on irregular migration in Benin Republic, an offence which is said to carry as its punishment imprisonment, fines or deportation.
However, the government of Benin Republic is said to be avoiding a diplomatic row with Nigeria and therefore considering deporting the agitator to his country of origin.
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An official with Benin’s INTERPOL National Central Bureau said that intelligence gathered showed that it would be “unhealthy” to jail Igboho in the country.
“The least punishment Igboho can be given is to be deported to the country he came from (Nigeria) if found guilty. The Nigerian authorities can take over from there if they wish,” The Punch quoted another official as saying.
Speaking on plots to deport Igboho, Olajengbesi said, “I am aware that the Federal Government through the former Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai is making effort to get him deported. We can say that clearly.
“So far, the facts available before the court have nothing to do with the Nigerian government.
“We have nothing to worry about because the Benin Republic government has shown that it will operate within the precinct of the law. For us, we believe that Igboho is a criminal of conscience who has taken an effort to liberate his people.”
Meanwhile, Olusegun Falola, a member of Igboho’s nine-man legal team, said that the Yoruba Nation agitator is being kept in Benin Republic prison for his own safety.
Falola, who holds a PhD. and teaches law in a Beninoise university, said that Igboho is covered by ECOWAS protocols to which Nigeria and Benin Republic are signatories, adding that there are no criminal charges against him.
“Though the laws of Benin Republic do not allow a person to be detained in police custody beyond one week, authorities in the Benin Republic believe that setting Igboho free at the time the matter was still generating a lot of heat in local and international circles might also expose him to danger,” The Nation quoted Falola to have said.
He said that the government of Benin Republic feels responsible for ensuring the safety of Igboho until the furore generated by his arrest dies down.
“Igboho has not committed any offence here. He did not even stay here up to one day before he was arrested. He was arrested at the airport on his way out.
“Space and time were not enough to link him with any criminal issue here. This has made it difficult to say his mission here is to cause trouble or commit a crime. He was arrested because of political issues emanating from Nigeria.
“His continued incarceration here is to allow things to calm down and for peace to reign between Nigeria and Benin Republic. We have no criminal allegation against him in the Benin Republic.”