Fugitive Igboho chained, tortured, cried like a child: Lawyer

Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, cried like a child after he was arrested and tortured, his lawyer, Yomi Alliyu (SAN) has said.

Mr Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho was apprehended in Cotonou, Benin Republic Monday night. He was declared wanted after the State Security Service (SSS) raided his home early July.

The self-styled Department of State Services (DSS) said he was declared wanted to explain how he got some arms and ammunition allegedly recovered from his residence during the midnight operation.

Mr Igboho has denied ownership of the displayed weapons and has been on the run until he was arrested in the West African country while on his way to Germany.

Mr Aliyu who leads the legal team of the seccessionist demanding the breakaway of the South-West geo-political zone and the actualization of Oduduwa Republic said his client who was arrested alongside his wife is in pains after being beaten, chained and thrown into a cell.

“They chained him in the cell where they put him in Cotonou,” the lead counsel told Punch Newspapers. “There was a fracas at the airport yesterday when he was arrested. They hit him in the hand and that same hand was handcuffed, he is in pains and he was weeping like a child when I called, I heard him.

“The wife too was put in a separate cell but they didn’t chain the wife. He was crying, the wife was crying too cease he was writhing in pains seriously. We only pray they don’t pay anybody to kill him. You don’t out somebody in cell and still chain the person.

“You know he sustained injury and they didn’t take him to hospital for treatment. We heard that he is appearing in court tomorrow but I don’t know whether that will carry it out,” he added.

The senior advocate also urged the government of the West African nation not to hearken to the demands of Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) who is reportedly pushing for the extradition of the Yoruba activist back to the country.

“The Extradition Treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin excluded political fugitives,” Aliyu argued. “It also states that where the fugitive will not get justice because of discrimination and/or undue delay in prosecution the host country should not release the fugitive.

“Now, Article 20 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights to which the four countries are signatories made agitation for self-determination a fundamental right to be protected by all countries. This made Chief Sunday Adeyemo a political offender who cannot be deported and/or extradited by the good people of the Republic of Benin for any reason.”