Ibrahim Salami, one of the lawyers of popular Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has disclosed that the government of Benin Republic has filed fresh charges against his client.
Salami, who spoke with the BBC Yoruba after court proceedings late Monday, said the court ordered Igboho to remain in custody in order to investigate the fresh charges which were filed against him on Monday.
Recall that Igboho, alongside his wife were arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic a week ago, while trying to catch a flight to Germany. His arrest came few days after the Federal Government had placed the activist on a stop-list.
The Federal Government through the National Immigration Service (NIS), had written to the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS); Inspector-General of Police (IGP); and the National Intelligence Agency, to raise alarm that Igboho was trying to flee the country.
Since his arrest, Igboho had been remanded in the custody of the Beninoise authorities and had been arraigned before the Cour D’Appel De Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Earlier, The New Diplomat had reported that the Cour D’Appel De Cotonou, ordered that Igboho be transferred to another detention facility in Cotonou.
The court, after a 13-hour hearing from the prosecution and defence lawyers ruled that Igboho be remanded in detention pending when all investigations would be concluded.
Explaining the court order, Salami said that Igboho is now being tried on illegal migration, dubious connivance with immigration officers and an attempt to cause civil unrest.
He further explained that the previous allegations that warranted placing Igboho on a watchlist had successful being tackled during the hearing.
According to him, the allegations which were successfully tackled are, trafficking in arms, inciting violence that could result in social disturbance and causing disunity in Nigeria.
In his words, “First, the judge ruled that Sunday Igboho entered into the Benin Republic through an illegal means. They also want to investigate how Sunday Igboho conspired with others to enter Benin Republic through wrong means.
“They also want to know how long he has been in Benin republic and his plans in the country. They also raised a charge on whether he wants to come and cause unrest or social disturbance in Benin Republic.”
