Sunday Igboho: Expect good news soon, says Ilana Oodua

The umbrella body of the Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has asked Yoruba Nation agitators that a good news will soon be announced on issues concerning the detention of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Igboho in Benin Republic.

According to the group, underground efforts are ongoing to get the activist freed.

The spokesperson for the group, Maxwell Adeleye, in an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, explained that Igboho was not abandoned.

He also asked Yoruba people to be confident, saying that a favourable outcome should be expected.

When asked about an update on the detention of Igboho in Benin Republic, he said, “Expect good news soon. Yes, expect good news very soon.”

The Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, home of the pro-Yoruba self-determination activist was invaded by men from DSS about 1:30 am on July 1, 2021, leading to the arrest of 12 of his aides, while Igboho managed to escape arrest.

The 48-year-old activist was arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Republic of Benin alongside his wife Ropo, on their way to Germany.

His wife has been released but Igboho is currently in a detention facility in Benin Republic.

Recently, Igboho asked his supporters not to stage demonstrations in his name “for the time being”.

While awaiting to be freed ion Benin Republic, Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court had declared the raid conducted by the Department of State Service on the residence of Igboho, in Ibadan as illegal.

The court also ordered DSS to pay N20 billion to Igboho as exemplary and aggravated damages.

Akintola described DSS’ action as “arbitrary aggression and prejudices” against Igboho.

Following the raid, Igboho sued the Federal Government and demanded damages.

Igboho asked the court to order the respondents to jointly pay him the sum ₦500 million as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another ₦500 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages for beaching his fundamental rights with the malicious invasion of his house as well as an order directing the Federal Government and the other respondents to tender a public apology in two national dailies.

Igboho filed the application, through his lawyer, Yomi Alliyu, to enforce his fundamental human rights, pursuant to Sections 33-46 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and relevant articles of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

Igboho also sought an order of the court directing the respondents to return all the items seized from the house.

He listed the items to include, N2 million cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewelry and wristwatches, 2 mobile phones, and other items yet unknown but which were allegedly carted away by the SSS

Sodiq Oyeleke