Sunday Adeyemo, the
Yoruba Nation activist popularly known as Sunday Igboho, will be appearing
before the appeal court in Cotonou on Monday. But to answer for what charges
exactly?
According to Igboho’s lawyers, the Nigerian government is
yet to file for the extradition of the Yoruba youth leader. The activist who is
said to have stayed within the laws in Benin was reported in court to have
broken three major laws in Nigeria.
Here are the offences against Igboho and the corresponding
penalty in Nigerian law:
ARMS SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING
Igboho is charged with trafficking and possession of
unlicenced arms and ammunition in Nigeria. This is a charge punishable by a
minimum of 10 years imprisonment.
According to Nigeria’s Firearms Act, “where a person
contrary to section 20 of this Act imports or causes to be imported firearms or
ammunition by post or, contrary to section 21 of this Act, exports or causes to
be exported any firearm or ammunition therein referred to, he is guilty of an
offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than
ten years”.
This is in addition to five-year imprisonment for illegal
possession of firearms or ammunition and a fine of N1,000. The Act, however,
adds that anyone found to have contravened this act “may be tried summarily in
any part of Nigeria”.
SECESSION OR TREASON?
The Yoruba Nation activist has been accused of seeking to
break away a certain of the country from the rest of the state. The Nigerian
laws are not entirely clear about what should be done to secessionists,
therefore, the government often charges them with treason or promotion of
inter-communal war.
“Any person who levies war against the State, in order to
intimidate or overawe the President or the Governor of a State, is guilty of
treason, and is liable to the punishment of death,” the criminal code act
states.
“Any person who, without lawful authority, carries on, or
makes preparation for carrying on, or aids in or advises the carrying on of, or
preparation for, any war or warlike undertaking with, for, by, or against, any
traditional chief, or with, for, by, or against any band of citizens, is guilty
of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for life.”
It is unclear what exact allegations the Nigerian government
is filing against Igboho in this case.
INCITING VIOLENCE
The Yoruba youth leader has also been accused of inciting
people to violence in his call for the freedom of his kin and kith.
The punishment for this offence is seven years in prison for
felony, in line with the unlawful society chapter of the criminal code.
“Any person who manages or assists in the management of an
unlawful society is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for seven
years,” the law reads.
Igboho has denied all the allegations levelled against him
and his lawyers have said the government has no evidence to back up its claims.
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