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  • Sunday Igboho still held in Cotonou, not released

    Sunday Igboho still held in Cotonou, not released

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    By Alao Abiodun

    Contrary to trending reports that embattled Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho has been released and flown to Germany, he is still being held by the Beninoise authorities, The Nation can confirm.

    The Nation reports Igboho was arrested at an airport in Cotonou on Monday night.

    Professor Wale Adeniran of Ilana Omo Odua, umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, confirmed this in a zoom conversation organised by Heritage Multimedia TV monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday evening.

    Adeniran, a pioneer Commissioner of Education in Osun State and former Director of Institute of African Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, refuted the trending reports that he has been released.

    He said: “I have just spoken with his lawyer. The lawyer has visited the location where he (Igboho) is been held.

    “He was not allowed to see him (Igboho) but they confirmed to him that they are holding him in that location.

    “He was asked to come back tomorrow (Wednesday) by 8:00am to see him.

    “I asked him hope they are not going to play a funny game of secretly extraditing him, the lawyer told me it is not possible.

    “We filed an application for political asylum for him over a week ago. With that in process, he cannot be legally extradited from Benin republic. I am very confident about that.
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    “I handle the application myself with the immigration lawyer and he assured me that since that application has been filed, he cannot be extradited. I think we should be rest assured that he will have the opportunity to see him tomorrow.”

    Adeniran carpeted those falsely reporting he has been released.

    He said: “Why should people be putting out false information that he has been released which is injurious to this struggle and to the welfare and wellbeing of igboho?”

    Adeniran disclosed four international lawyers from Benin Republic, Nigeria, France, Britain are on the case but when they saw the trending news, they had to call him to confirm.

    “When the lawyers saw the false information, they relaxed, I had to tell them it is false. So can you see the damage,” he added.

  • President Buhari Splashes 1Million, Other Items To Corps Members

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, received some members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) serving in his home town, Daura, Katsina State, praising the idea behind the establishment of the scheme and gifting his visitors two cows from his farm, 20 bags of rice and N1 million.

    The Corps members were in the president’s country home for what has become an annual Eid-el-Kabir homage.

    Speaking at the occasion, President Buhari expressed his deep attachment to the NYSC and the impact it has so far made, saying that it broadens the horizon of citizens, opens up opportunities and enhances understanding of cultural differences.

    The President said he had consistently commended former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon for the initiative, which had created more opportunities for uniting the country.

    President Buhari urged the youth corps members to make the most out of the opportunity of travelling around the country, especially in understanding different climates, cultures, languages and our views on life.

    A statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity) quoted him as saying: “Every time I meet with former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, like recently, I still commend him for the initiative of the NYSC. The NYSC is spectacular in many ways.

    “Some of you have come from Port Harcourt, Lagos and Calabar and you can now feel the heat of Daura and how close it is to the desert.”

    The President said the NYSC scheme was well-thought-out to unite the country through understanding.

    “I feel very strongly about the NYSC and I am wishing you all the very best. I assure you that you will be much better as Nigerians after your experience,’’ he added.

    The Corps Liason Officer, Umaru Babayo thanked the president for all the efforts and sacrifices to restore peace in the country, and the policies to diversify the economy, with agriculture as the main driver.

    He said the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, had shown a lot of kindness and warmth to corps members as well in his domain, appreciating the community for always supporting them.

    Babayo assured the President of prayers for a successful time in office, and God’s providence in decision making that will move the country forward.

  • Why Sunday Igboho Can’t Be Extradited, Lawyer

    Why Sunday Igboho Can’t Be Extradited, Lawyer

    Lawyer to Yoruba Nation Agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, Chief Yomi Aliu (SAN) has argued why his client cannot be extradited to Nigeria.

    Confirming Igboho’s arrest on Monday night with his wife, Ropo Adeyemo in Cotonou, Benin Republic, Aliu however stated they cannot be extradited because of a treaty with Benin on political offenders.

    Declaring Igboho as a political offender, the legal practitioner said the treaty is categorical that any political offender unlikely to get justice at home should not be extradited to home country.

    He added that lawyers in Benin Republic would be engaged to defend Igboho’s rights against extradition.Aliu, in a statement, said:

    “It is a shocking news that Nigerian Government has gotten Chief Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a Sunday Igboho Oosa arrested by INTERPOL in Republic of Benin notwithstanding the political nature of his offense and what the DSS earlier said that they refrained from arresting him so as not to overheat the polity of Southwestern Nigeria.

    “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.

    “Secondly, that he cannot get Justice or even be killed is apparent in how those arrested in his house were detained for more than 21days now without access to their lawyers. Even the wife among them could not change her undies for 21days! Which inhuman treatment can be more this?“Again another wife of our client Mrs. Ropo Adeyemo, a German citizen, has been arrested together with her husband in Cotonou. What offence has she committed to warrant this? “We urge the good government of the Republic of Benin and international community, especially Germany, to rise up and curb the impunity of the Nigerian Government by refusing any application for extradition of our Client who already has application before ICC duly acknowledged.”

  • ‘Pastor’ Hangs Self After Accused of Defiling Minor in Delta

    ‘Pastor’ Hangs Self After Accused of Defiling Minor in Delta

    A 45-year-old man popularly called ‘pastor’ has hanged himself after being accused of defiling a minor in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The incident, it was reliably gathered on Tuesday, occurred on July 5, 2021.The deceased, identified as Jagbefume Oriagioge, allegedly hanged himself in his room at Iregwa Street, Agbor.‌Residents of Iregwa Street, off Ojeifoh Street and Upper Queen Lane reportedly woke up the morning of that fateful day to see the lifeless body of the man dangling under the ceiling.

    It was gathered that the deceased might have taken his own life after being accused of defiling a minor of one of his neighbours.“The deceased was suspected to have ended his life as he could no longer bear the shame of allegedly having carnal knowledge of his neighbour’s female child (minor) and which was discussed at the community palace.

    “The deceased was somebody who was not free with people to really tell who he was. We called him ‘pastor’ because we felt he was one.“But the news of him sleeping with the female child of his neighbour is what we do not understand and now he has ended his life perhaps out of shame,” a neighbour reportedly narrated.

    Late Oriagioge was said to have hailed from an Esan community in Edo State and was a dedicated usher at a branch of a popular Pentecostal church in Agbor.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Delta State Command, DSP Bright Edafe, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the mortuary of Central Hospital, Agbor for autopsy by the policemen from Agbor Police Divisional Headquarters while further investigations are ongoing.

  • Igboho: Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Akintoye Reveals Next Line of Action

    Igboho: Leader of Ilana Omo Oodua, Prof. Akintoye Reveals Next Line of Action

    Following the arrest of Chief Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho in Benin Republic by security operatives, Leader of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua (IOO), Professor Emeritus Banji Akintoye has revealed the next line of action.

    Akintoye while confirming the arrest of Igboho to The Nation said, Yoruba Patriots are working hard to provide assistance for Ighoho towards preventing his extradition to Nigeria because “Benin Republic is a land that respects the rules of law”.

    He called on all Yoruba people within and beyond the shores of Nigeria to ensure their ancestral land is not defeated by invaders.

    “I received last night the troubling information that Chief Sunday Adeyemo fondly called Igboho had been arrested at the Cotonou Airport.

    “I and other Yoruba Patriots who are immediately available are now working to provide the assistance necessary to ensure that nobody will be able to do to him anything unlawful or primitive and to prevent him from being extradited into Nigeria which is strongly possible.

    “Fortunately, Benin Republic is reliably a land of law where the authorities responsibly obey the law. We have secured the services of a leading and highly respected lawyer whom we can confidently rely on.

    “What the situation now calls for is that the Yoruba nation at home and in Diapora must stand strong, resolved that neither Sunday Igboho nor any other Yoruba person will henceforth be subjected to inhuman or dehumanising treatment of any kind.

    “We Yoruba nation are, by the grace of God, a very strong nation. We must arise now to show that strength.

    “For a start, we must all see to it now that Sunday Ighoho will get his freedom back so as to be able to move and operate as a free person. We all know he has committed no crime.”

    He added: “We know that some people are trying to suppress or even eliminate him only because he stood up to defend his kinsmen, women and children who are being massively killed and raped in their ancestral home Land; who are having their assets and means of livelihood destroyed, and who are facing ethnic cleansing and even genocide without having the benefit of protection by the rulers of their country.

    “We know, furthermore, that for the protection of his people who are being brutalised, he has joined hands with many of his brethren to take the legally-appropriate step, namely to seek the intervention of the International Criminal Court.”

    Recall that, Igboho was arrested at an airport in Cotonou on Monday night while attempting to flee to Germany.

  • Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Igboho Arrested in Cotonou

    Yoruba Nation Agitator, Sunday Igboho Arrested in Cotonou

    Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, has been arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, The PUNCH has learnt.

    He was arrested at an airport in Cotonou on Monday night, a top source familiar with the matter told Punch.

    Igboho was arrested by the security forces in Benin Republic about three weeks after the Department of State Services declared him wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he has since denied.

    The source told The PUNCH that Igboho will be repatriated to Nigeria on Tuesday (today) from Benin Republic, one of Nigeria’s neighbouring countries in the West African sub region.

    “He was arrested in Cotonou while he tried to travel out on Monday night. His destination was Germany. The security forces in Benin Republic should repatriate him to Nigeria on Tuesday,” the source said.

    The Nigerian secret police had raided Igboho’s Ibadan residence in the Soka area on July 1, 2021, arrested about 12 of his aides and killed two of them in a gun duel.

    The Federal Government of Nigeria had placed the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigeria Customs Service on alert to stop Igboho from leaving the country.

    When contacted, a member of Igboho’s legal team, Pelumi Olajengbesi, said he would speak with the lead counsel, Yomi Aliyu (SAN), and revert later.

    DSS spokesman, Peter Afunanya, did not respond to a text message seeking confirmation on the matter.

    Afunanya, at a briefing on July 1, 2021, had vowed that “Igboho may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants…But this will be the end of his shenanigans.”

  • Eid-El-Kabir: Hon. Akinlade felicitates with Muslims, urges people in position of authority to making more sacrifices

    The Federal Commissioner representing Ogun State at the Federal Character Commission, Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade, has felicitated with Muslim faithfuls in Yewa South, Ogun State, and across Nigeria at large.

    In a Celebratory Statement to mark this year’s Eid-El-Kabir celebration, Hon. Abiodun charged Muslim faithfuls in Ogun State to always imbibe the significance of the season.

    He said; “As we all know that this is a feast of sacrifice, I urge you all our Muslim faithfuls to please commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his unconditional readiness to sacrifice his only son”. Referring to the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice Ishmael on Mount Moriah, according to Islamic tradition, as unprecedented.

    Hon. Abiodun also enjoined people in positions of authority in their various leadership roles and capacity to making more sacrifices for humanity, and investing also particularly on our youths- which he believes is our present and future, for a more prosperous and prouder Ogun State.

    It is worthy of note to state categorically that Hon. Abiodun Isiaq Akinlade has since his appointment into the Federal Character Commission helped countless youths in Ogun State to securing Federal Government’s jobs into various Federal Government’s Ministries, Agencies and Parastatals. As he has also helped facilitating numerous youth programs in Ogun State.

  • Bandits Give Conditions For Release of Abducted Bethel Students

    Bandits Give Conditions For Release of Abducted Bethel Students

    Parents of the kidnapped Bethel Baptist School students have been asked by the bandits to pay a cumulative ransom of N60 million to free the students before the end of Monday.

    However, the bandits had released one of the students because of illness.

    Vanguard correspondent gathered from one of the affected parents that the bandits had said if the ransom is paid accordingly, the 120 remaining students would be released immediately.

    “We are already working round the clock to raise the ransom. They said if the ransom demand is met today (Monday), the students would be released on Tuesday, they promised us,” he said.

    “Some amount has been gathered, but the church is trying to raise additional funds from members and well-wishers to complete the money. We the parents have already been contributing to the pool.”

    “The bandits had last week released one of the students who became sick in their custody.

    “He was brought back home by some other kidnapped victims who were released after their families had paid their ransom,” he said.

    It was gathered that the bandits had earlier demanded hundreds of millions, but after several days of negotiations, they reduced the ransom to N500,000 per student, making it a total of N60 million.

  • Bbnaija: Organizers Announce Opening Shows For 2021 Edition

    Organizers of Big Brother Naija have announced opening shows for 2021 edition of the reality show scheduled for Saturday, July 24 and Sunday, July 25, 2021.

    Multichoice Nigeria, announced the new dimensions and additions to the sixth season of the BBNaija.

    Multichoice Head of Marketing, Martin Mabutho announced the new developments ahead of the 2021 edition.

    This fresh move, Mabutho said, is in the organisers’ bid to make the show bigger than the fifth edition.

    Mabutho also announced that SMS voting for Housemates will not be available for the sixth edition as all voting will be conducted online as well as through the DStv and GOtv mobile applications.

    Bisola Tejumola, Multichoice Head of Content West Africa, announced the sixth season of BBNaija will see the winner going home with a grand prize of N90 million.

    Tejumola said further the show will have a new feature in the house, two new currencies as well as housemates.

    The BBNaija 6 will, according to the organisers, run for 72 days – between July 24 to October 3.

    The 2020 BBNaija edition themed Lockdown edition was won by Laycon after almost 80 days in the House.

  • NAF Confirms Alpha Jet Crash in Zamfara, Says Pilot Ejected Successfully

    By Okodili Ndidi, Abuja

    The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed the crash of an Alpha Jet aircraft in Zamfara while returning from air interdiction between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna States.

    According to a statement by the Director Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, the aircraft came under enemy fire but the Pilot, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected.

    It said: “on 18 July 2021, at about 12.45 pm, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, returning from a successful air interdiction mission between the boundaries of Zamfara and Kaduna State, came under intense enemy fire which led to its crash in Zamfara State. Luckily, the gallant pilot of the aircraft, Flight Lieutenant Abayomi Dairo, successfully ejected from the aircraft.

    “Using his survival instincts, the pilot, who came under intense ground fire from the bandits, was able to evade them and sought refuge in nearby settlements awaiting sunset. Using the cover of darkness and his phone set for navigation, Flight Lieutenant Dairo was able to elude several bandits’ strongholds and maneuvered his way to a Nigerian Army Unit, where he was finally rescued”.

    The statement added: “It is instructive to note that upon receipt of the news of the crash, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, had directed that all efforts must be emplaced to rescue the pilot. Accordingly, NAF Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and helicopter gunships provided close air support to NAF Special Forces and Nigerian Army troops who were able to locate the crash site and the pilot’s parachute, while also combing nearby locations for any sign of the pilot.

    “It is gladdening to note that while in hiding, Flight Lieutenant Dairo confirmed that the presence of NAF aircraft within the vicinity of the crash site helped in scaring the bandits who were after him, thus enabling him to find refuge and escape to a safe location.


    “It is important to also recall that only recently, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, had directed the Armed Forces of Nigeria to do all it takes to flush out criminal elements in Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna States.

    “It is in fulfilment of this directive that the NAF, in conjunction with surface forces, has in the last 2 weeks mounted intensive day and night air interdiction operations against bandits and their hideouts, especially in these 3 states. Through these intensive air operations, hundreds of bandits have been neutralized and several of their hideouts destroyed.

    “Despite the setback of yesterday’s crash, the NAF remains committed towards fulfilling Mr President’s mandate as well as other constitutional roles assigned to it. The willingness, readiness and tested ability of the NAF remains unshaken and unwavering as it continues to carry out its assigned roles”.