Sunday Igboho: Two Prominent Nigerians Responsible For His Release

It was all cheers on Monday after the news broke that Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been released from detention.

The activist had been in detention in the Benin Republic following his arrest over seven months ago, Naija News reports.

Sunday Igboho was arrested in the West African country last year while attempting to seek refuge in Germany through the country.

Reports credited to one of Igboho’s allies had emerged last Thursday that the embattled activist will be freed from detention.

The speculations, however, ended on Monday after lawyers in the know confirmed Igboho was released on certain conditions.

“The conditions are not too tough. He won’t hold any rally and can’t leave Cotonou,” one of the lawyers said.

The comment is coming after the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, joyfully announced Igboho’s release, a development that created an atmosphere of celebration for the Yoruba race.

However, a counsel for the activist, Chief Yomi Aliyyu, SAN, has said Igboho’s release was successful with the help of two prominent citizens.

He noted that praises should be ascribed to two prominent Yoruba personalities, the persons of Nigerian playwright and novelist, Prof Wole Soyinka and Prof Akintoye.

Allyu, however, stressed that parts of the condition given for the release of the activist state that under no condition should Igboho leave the medical centre nor Cotonou.

Meanwhile, Igboho’s counterpart from the Southern region, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnnamdi Kanu is still in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has in a recent publication, warned that it is unsafe to further keep Biafra agitator.

The rights group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, said President Muhammadu Buhari government and the DSS, has showed no regard to the nation’s judiciary for failing to release Kanu.

Naija News reports that HURIWA lampooned the DSS for allegedly denying Kanu access to his lawyers thereby violating court orders.

According to the rights group, the continuous detention and unfair treatment of the IPOB leader will only worsen unrest in the Southeastern region of the country.

HURIWA urged President Buhari to immediately set up a proper mechanism for an all out negotiation and dialogue on ways to restore peace, security and stability to the South East, stressing that it was dangerous for Kanu to remain in detention till April when presidential primary elections would commence.