The asylum application by Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, might be determine by Benin Republic this week.
According to PUNCH, there are strong indications that Benin Republic will make the outcome of the 48-year-old activist’s asylum application known this week.
WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that Igboho and his wife, Ropo, were arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou on Monday night while trying to catch a flight to Germany.
The Coordinating counsel for Igboho, Olasupo Ojo, said he was yet to get any official report on his asylum.
Asked if Igboho had been granted asylum, he said, “I have not got any official report in relation to that.”
“Yes, we are expecting feedback this week,” he added when asked if Igboho’s asylum application feedback may be out this week.
PUNCH also reported that the spokesperson for Ilana Omo Oduduwa, Maxwell Adeleye, said the organisation is expecting a positive response.
“We have submitted an application and we are hoping to get a positive response before the end of the week.”
Recall that Ibrahim Salami, one of Igboho’s Benin Republic-based lawyers, had explained that charges against the activist would be neutralised if the activist is granted asylum.
“When he left Nigeria, he took the backdoor into Benin. It was at the airport that security operatives stopped him that he was on the watchlist. He didn’t go against any law in Benin Republic. They didn’t find any Beninese passport on him. He had a Nigerian passport with a German residency card. He needed no visa at that point.
“When we understudied the case, we realised that the Nigerian government had not filed a case for extradition. They only claimed that he is wanted in Nigeria for criminal offences. Our argument is that he was arrested because of Nigeria’s request, and there is no proof to show that he is a criminal. He spent barely 24 hours in the country and filed an asylum,” Salami said.