The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, ordered the government of the Republic of Benin to pay Yoruba nation activist Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, a sum of 20 million CFA for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.
In a unanimous judgement delivered by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara, Sengu M. Koroma and Ricardo ClaúdioMonteiro GONÇALVES, in the matter, marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/15/22 In Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) vs. Republic of Benin, the court also ordered the Francophone country to comply with its order to pay 20 million CFA to Adeyemo within three months and report back to the court with evidence of payment.
Counsel for the applicant (Adeyemo) includes Tosing Ojaomo, Aderemilekun Omojola Esq., Dr Janet Fashakin Esq., and Irene Aclombessi, who represented the Republic of Benin.
The judgment followed the application brought before the court by Adeyemo against the defendant (Benin Republic), challenging his arrest and detention in the French-speaking country on July 21, 2021.
The application was filed before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, on February 10, 2022.
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;
“…2)An Order for the immediate and unconditional release of Chief Adeyemo, along with his Nigerian passport, pending litigation and determination of damages, and (3) Such orders as this honourable court may deem fit.”
Recall that on July 20, 2021, Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
The Yoruba nation agitator had fled Nigeria after a combined team of the Nigeria Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) raided his residence, located around the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital, on July 1, 2021.
Igboho had planned a “Yoruba nation rally” in Lagos two days before the raid.
The raid led to the deaths of two people, while 12 of his aides were arrested.The DSS had alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons and subsequently declared him wanted.
Attempts by the Nigerian government to repatriate him to Nigeria after his arrest were unsuccessful.
He was recently released from protective custody in Cotonou, having fulfilled all the conditions attached to his bail after his arraignment in court more than a year ago
Sources: Vanguard/Tribune
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