Mr. Yomi Aliyu (SAN) and lawyer to Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government of Nigeria allegedly sent helicopters to Cotonou, Benin Republic in a bid to repatriate his client.
According to the lawyer, it was some Yoruba indigenes who were present at the airport that foiled the efforts of the security operatives.
Recall that Igboho was arrested at an airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic in the late hours of Monday. The activist has since remained in the custody of the security operatives in Cotonou.
Narrating the incident, Aliyu who spoke on a radio station named Rave FM, said that Ighoho was already onboard an aircraft heading to Germany before a spy sighted him and raised alarm.
According to the lawyer, the activist alongside his wife and brother were then forced out of the plane. He added that Igboho’s wife and brother put up a fight, raising alarm as the security operatives were about to put the activist in a helicopter heading to Nigeria. While Igboho’s brother was “bundled back into the plane”, the activist and wife were quickly apprehended.
However, Aliyu said that some Yoruba indigenes came to the rescue of Igboho as they stopped the security operatives from bringing Igboho to Nigeria.
In his words, “As at today (Wednesday) Sunday Igboho is still in police detention in Benin Republic, specifically in Cotonou.
“While they were fighting with the brother, he was bundled back into the plane heading to Germany; he was the one in Germany now, not Igboho.
“He was already in the plane in Cotonou on his way to Germany with his wife and his brother was there too. Somebody fingered him out that he is a wanted person.
“He was brought down with the wife and brother and a fracas ensued because he was to be flown to Nigeria by a standby helicopter.
“But the wife and the brother put up a fight and started shouting at the airport, which attracted some other Yoruba indigenes and they came to their rescue.”
Aliyu further added that he has been communicating with Igboho indirectly and deliberately decided not to travel to the country to avoid being embarrassed.
He said: “My communication with him is indirect. We don’t want to create a situation where we now go to Cotonu and I will be embarrassed for some other things.
“We know who is heading the police, who is the High Commissioner on Cotonu. I can’t go to that area now, but I speak with him indirectly anytime I want to speak with him.
“I have been speaking with him through somebody that should know.
“I don’t belong to any group: neither Afenifere nor Oodua Nation. I am directly appointed by Sunday not for any group, not for Oodua group, not for Afenifere or anybody.
“In fact, my own philosophy is different from their philosophy. But professionally, I am for Sunday and the rule of Law nothing political.”
