African countries treaty gives Igboho immunity against extradition, says Lawyer
Segun Showunmi in Ibadan
The lawyer of a Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has explained that, the extradition treaty of 1984 between five African countries exempted his client from being extradite.
Penpushing reports that, the lawyer of Igboho Yomi Alliyu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) made this clear on Tuesday in defence of Igboho who was arrested in Benin Republic on Monday on his way to Germany
The lawyer, argued that the human rights activist, emphasised that the extradition treaty of 1984 between Togo, Nigeria, Ghana and Republic of Benin excluded political fugitives, explaining 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
“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’,he said.
“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 21 days now without access to their lawyers,”Alliyu emphasised.
Penpushing further reports that,, Afenifere Renewal Group (ARG) through its chairman,Wale Oshun has also joined in ensuring that Igboho is not extradite as being planned by the Nigerian government,raising alarm that if extradite he would be deny justice
“If extracted to Nigeria, justice will be denied justice. Benin Republic, under international law, has an obligation to protect Mr Adeyemo and ensure that he receives justice in whatever extradition process her court might be called to adjudicate upon’, he stressed.
“Afenifere Renewal Group invites the Central government to concentrate on solving the problems that precipitated all the crises presently confronting Nigeria rather than selectively bullying its citizens on the basis of ethnic nationality.the statement reads.”
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