Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has claimed Benin Republic told Tukur Buratai, Nigeria’s ambassador to the country, that they will follow the rule of law as it concerns the extradition of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho.
Igboho is currently in detention in Benin Republic after he was arrested on July 19 in Cotonou while trying to escape to Germany.
The charges pressed against the agitator border on arms smuggling, inciting violence and calling for a secession of the Yoruba race from Nigeria.
Speaking on the development on Channels Television on Thursday, Falana said Buratai, who is a former chief of army staff, asked that Igboho should be handed over to him.
“In the case of Sunday Igboho, again despite my disagreement with him, I came out to say you cannot just throw him into a waiting plane as we were told, it was attempted.
“You have to go to court. You have to make a request under international law, under the ECOWAS convention on extradition.
“The government of Nigeria is requested to submit an extradition request to the government of Benin Republic and so when the plenipotentiary, General Yusuf Buratai (retired), who at that time had not submitted his letters of credence asked that Igboho be handed over to him.
“He was told, ‘sorry, we operate the rule of law here’. That is why that matter is still in court,” Falana said.
