The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court
of justice has ordered the government of the Republic of Benin to pay Sunday
Adeyemo, popularly called Igboho, 20 million CFA for "unlawful
detention".
The court ordered that the money should be paid within three
months.
Igboho had on February 10, filed an application before the
court challenging his arrest and detention in the French-speaking country.
Judgment in the suit marked ECW/CCJ/APP/15/22 was delivered by a three-member panel of the court.
The ECOWAS court also directed the country to comply with
its order and report back to the court with evidence of payment.
In July 2021, Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo,
in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian
government.
The Yoruba Nation agitator had fled Nigeria after the
Department of State Services (DSS) raided his residence in Ibadan, Oyo state on
July 1.
Igboho had planned a 'Yoruba nation rally' in Lagos two days
before the raid.
The raid led to the death of two people while 12 of his
aides were arrested.
The DSS had alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons, and
subsequently declared him wanted.
Attempts by the Nigerian government to repatriate him, after
his arrest, were unsuccessful.
His wife was later released by the Beninese authorities.
Igboho was arraigned at the Court D'Apeal in Cotonou and was
detained in a prison facility in the country.
The charges against him bordered on arms smuggling, inciting
violence and calling for a secession of the Yoruba from the Nigerian state.
Igboho and his lawyers denied all allegations levelled
against him.
However, fresh allegations bordering on illegal entry and
criminal association, were levelled against him at the Benin Republic court.
In March 2022, he was released to his doctors under the
agreement that he should not leave the medical centre or Cotonou for any
reason.
In October, Yomi Aliu, Igboho's lawyer, confirmed that his
client had been released.
"Yes, he has been released. He was released yesterday.
He is now in Germany," Aliu said.
Asked to speak on the state of his release, he said "I
can't speak about it".
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