Igboho supporters urged to stay away from Benin Republic Court on Monday
“FG to portray Igboho as a gun runner”
By Kunle Abolurin
Supporters of Yoruba self determination activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo have been asked not to storm Benin Republic court as many of them plan to do on Monday when the activist is scheduled to appear in Court.
A statement by Prof Banji Akintoye’s legal adviser, Mr Supo Ojo said the Nigerian authorities plan to appear in Court on Monday with a conscious attempt to portray Igboho as a violent man with a large follower ship. He said the government is portraying Igboho as a “gun runner.”
Ojo said huge attendance of the Benin court by Igboho’s supporters with the likelihood of associated possible chaos will only serve the design of the Nigerian State.
A statement by Ojo made available to Irohinoodua on Sunday said information has reached the legal team that many Yoruba Nation Self-determination activists are
planning to go and witness, and even protest at the court proceedings involving Chief Sunday
Adeyemo Igboho in Benin Republic court.
He said based on meetings and discussions with the
lawyers representing Sunday Igboho, it has become necessary to commend and appreciate the immense support already received from all Yorubas, groups and friends worldwide.
He said “We have assembled the best lawyers within Republic of Benin and an International law
expert from Paris, France for the legal defence of Chief Sunday Igboho and they are all
working well under our supervision. We are satisfied with their work up till now.”
Ojo said the Court system and Judges in Benin Republic are different from the Nigerian Court
system and judges adding that they are not used to having a crowded court premises hence they may
misinterpret the presence of too much people in the Court premises as attempt to harass,
intimidate and overwhelm the court which opinion can have negative effect on Chief
Sunday Igboho.
“The Nigerian government has falsely painted a bad picture that Chief Sunday Adeyemo is
a gun-runner and a terrorist with large followership. The presence of crowds may be
capitalised upon by the Nigerian Government lawyers as corroborative of their
allegations. The presence of a huge crowd may pose some security concerns to security agencies and
operatives in Benin Republic and may compel them to adopt some stringent measures to
prevent a crowded court and attendant danger.”
Ojo, who is former President of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR) said “Our lawyers are not comfortable with the prospect of too much crowd spoiling their good
work and have urged that we appeal to our people to refrain from crowding the court. We therefore urge all lovers of the Yoruba Nation and Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho Oosa in Nigeria to please refrain from going to Cotonou for the Court proceedings. Such trip may be
rendered useless by the inadequate size of the Court Room.”
He said “We shall adequately represented
by the Yoruba Community in Benin Republic. They have been very wonderful hence we should
allow them to represent us very well.We promise that detailed report of proceedings in court shall be made public after the court
sittings. We crave the understanding of everyone in this sensitive matter.”
