Breaking: Court Adjourns Igboho’s case to Monday, release wife after six-hour hearing

The  court hearing of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho over immigration-related issues in Benin Republic has been adjourned till Monday, next week.

The court adjourned after sitting briefly this morning.

The Court had yesterday ordered the release of his wife, Ropo while Igboho be remanded in the custody of Brigade Criminelle in Cotonou pending the submission of charges by the Nigerian Government.

The hearing of the case lasted for more than six hours on Thursday at  Cour De’appal De Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Igboho, who was arrested at Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou on Monday night, is being tried for immigration-related offences.

After three sessions, the court ordered the release of Igboho’s wife, Ropo, while the activist was returned to cell.

The sessions started at 10am and ended at about 8pm, but there were intermittent breaks during the hearing.

A member of Igboho’s legal team, Pelumi Olajengbesi, confirmed the development to The PUNCH on Thursday, adding that the team was hopeful that the court would grant bail to Igboho

Earlier, there was anxiety among supporters of the Yoruba Nation activist when he arrived at the court on Thursday.

A source said Igboho, who was arrested around 8pm on Monday by the International Criminal Police Organisation was arraigned for immigration-related offences.

The activist and his wife, were arrested at the airport when they wanted to catch a flight to Germany.

According to the report,   Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Benin Republic, and the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), was pushing for the extradition of Igboho to the DSS headquarters in Abuja but Igboho’s lawyer, Yomi Aliyyu (SAN), insisted that his client could not be extradited because the 1984 Extradition Treaty between Nigeria, Benin and two others excluded political refugees like Igboho.

The PUNCH had reported that the Federal Government planned to extradite the activist on Wednesday but Benin Republic insisted that it would not be part of any process that was against due process.