Ibrahim David Salami, a counsel to popular Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, has revealed what the Federal Government of Nigeria told the Republic of Benin that led to the arrest of his client.
According to Salami, the Nigerian government wrote its Beninoise counterpart to arrest Igboho, alleging that he was involved in arms trafficking.
Recall that Igboho, alongside his wife, Ropo, were apprehended by security operatives in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while trying to catch a flight to Germany.
Speaking with BBC Yoruba, Salami disclosed that the Nigerian government privately told the Beninoise government to arrest Igboho.
He added that the Nigerian government also accused Igboho of calling for secession and disturbing the country.
In his words, “Nigerian government said Igboho was involved in arms trafficking into Nigeria.
“The second one is that he is causing disturbances in Nigeria and the third one is that he is trying to divide Nigeria into two or three.”
Speaking further, Salami added that the Nigerian government was yet to request for the extradition of Igboho, saying FG only requested for his arrest.
“When we saw the case in court, we discovered that the Nigerian government has not requested for his extradition.
“What is there is that the Nigerian government said they wanted to arrest Igboho because he committed certain offences in Nigeria and that if he is seen in Benin Republic he should be arrested,” he added.
The arrest of the activist came weeks after the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had raided his house in the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State. The DSS arrested and paraded 12 aides of Igboho and also recovered several arms and ammunitions. However, the spokesman of Igboho, Olayomi Koiki had since denied the claim of the DSS, saying that the DSS allegedly planted the arms and ammunitions to conspire against his principal.
Meanwhile, since the arrest of the activist the Federal Government has been conspicuously silent, and is yet to file charges against him.
