BY LEVI JOHNSON
Yomi Alliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN has asserted reasons Sunday Igboho, the Yoruba Nation agitator who was arrested in the Benin Republic would not be extradited to Nigeria for prosecution.
According to him, the Extradition Treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and the Republic of Benin excludes political fugitives which Sunday Igboho will enjoy.
Alliyu explained that the treaty 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.
He said: “The Extradition Treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin excluded political fugitives. 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.”
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This was based on what Yomi Alliyu, who the Lead Counsel for arrested Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, told the Punch.
Igboho’s legal counsel described the arrest of his client as shocking, asking that the government of Germany, Benin Republic and the international community “to rise up and curb the impunity of the Nigerian Government by refusing any application for extradition of our Client who already has an application before the International Criminal Court duly acknowledged”.
