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Sunday Igboho: FG May Proscribe Yoruba Nation Group Just Like IPOB

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The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government is considering outlawing the Yoruba Nation separatist movement led by Prof Banji Akintoye and Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho.

Recall that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the then Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, had in September 2017 approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to give judicial backing to the Executive Order of President Buhari, outlawing IPOB and its activities in every part of Nigeria.

The then Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati, had granted the order proscribing the group.

According to reports, Malami is contemplating using same tactics to quell the activities of the the Yoruba self-determination group known as Ilana Omo Oodua.

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Speaking in an interview with PUNCH, Malami’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu stated that all options within the context of the law will be explored to ensure a peaceful and united Nigeria.

Sunday Igboho

He, however, did not give details of what the government has been doing on the planned extradition of Sunday Igboho, who has been in a detention facility in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Asked whether the AGF Office had abandoned the extradition of Igboho or otherwise, Malami’s aide said he could not make the “processes” known to the public.

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Gwandu said, “There are certain things that may not require publicity but the important thing is having a peaceful Nigeria and not discussing all or making public some of the processes so far.”

Proscription like IPOB

The AGF Office said options were on the table to deal with Yoruba Nation groups to ensure a united and peaceful Nigeria.

The Federal Government is interested in having a peaceful Nigeria, so, all options cannot be ruled out, all options in order to have a peaceful and serene atmosphere in the country can be explored by the Federal Government,” he said.

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Asked specifically whether the Federal Government intended to proscribe Akintoye and Igboho-led Yoruba Nation group, the AGF Office said, “Whatever thing that is doable and possible within the context of the law in accordance with extant provisions of the law will be pursued. All options are available at the Federal Government’s end.”

Bandits and terrorists

Some Nigerians had accused the Buhari government of being quick to prosecute Nnnamdi Kanu and Igboho but pampering bandits and failing to prosecute arrested terrorists..

However, the AGF Office said it was not true, adding that they are prosecuting bandits and terrorists.

That is a lie. There is a department under the Attorney General that is pursuing all the issues. It doesn’t hold water; it is just a mere figment of the imagination of mischief-makers,” Malami’s aide said