By Oluseye Ojo
Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been awarded a sum of 20 million CFA by the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for unlawful detention by the government of the Republic of Benin.
The judgment was delivered by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara; Sengu M. Koroma; and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro GONÇALVES, in matter marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/15/22. The application was filed before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, on February 10, 2022.
In the judgment, the court ordered that the money be paid to Adeyemo within three months, starting from the day the judgment was delivered.
Counsel for the applicant (Adeyemo) included Tosin Ojaomo, Aderemilekun Omojola; and Dr Janet Fashakin, while Irene Aclombessi represented the Republic of Benin.
The judgment followed an application brought before the court by Adeyemo, who challenged his arrest and detention in the Francophone country on July 21, 2021.
Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
According to the court documents, “Orders sought wherefore Chief Adeyemo prays for the following from this Honourable Court: 1 “Pursuant to Article 59 of Rules of Procedure, an expedited procedure and hearing, regarding the imprisonment and release of Chief Adeyemo; An Order for the immediate and unconditional release of Chief Adeyemo, along with his Nigerian passport, pending litigation and determination of damages, and three such orders as this honourable court may deem fit.”
The Department of State Security (DSS) had alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons, and subsequently declared him wanted.
Igboho had planned a “Yoruba nation rally” in Lagos two days before the raid. The raid led to the death of two people while 12 of his aides were arrested. The Nigerian government’s attempted to repatriate him to Nigeria after his arrest were unsuccessful.
The judgment has been celebrated by Yoruba nation supporters and human rights activists, who have been seeking justice for Igboho’s detention.
Igboho’s legal team has expressed their satisfaction with the court’s decision and said they remained committed to seeking justice for their client.
Tosin Ojaomo, a counsel for Adeyemo, expressed satisfaction with the judgment, saying, “This is a clear message to the Republic of Benin and other countries, who unlawfully arrest and detain innocent individuals without regard to their rights. We congratulate our client, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, and we will continue to pursue justice on his behalf.”