Lawyers of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho, are currently battling with Benin Republic authorities to secure bail for the embattled activist.
Naija News reports that the Cour De’Appel Cotonou, had ordered Igboho to be sent back to prison and granted access to medical doctors.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Ibrahim Salami disclosed that lawyers are working to secure bail for Igboho and allow him travel to Germany on a medical trip.
He added that they would have to apply to the court for a date as well as for bail to enable Sunday Igboho travel out of the West African country.
“What is surprising to us, that I haven’t experienced in my many years of practice as a lawyer, is that first when he was arrested; according to them, he was arrested because he committed an offence in Nigeria, and the Nigerian government asked that he be arrested,” Salami said.
“When we got to the prosecutor, that was the explanation he gave that Igboho never committed an offence in Benin.
“But when we got to the judge that investigates, he told us that Igboho’s offence is no longer limited to the three highlighted by the prosecutor but that Igboho’s offence was that he was working among criminals and the judge made a suggestion to the third judge that Igboho should be sent to prison in Benin Republic.
“When we got to the third judge, the one that determines whether someone is jailed or freed, the judge asked Igboho how he got to Benin Republic and how long he had stayed in Benin. The judge said he was sure that Igboho tried conniving with those who caused havoc in Benin and we are surprised that it was not what Igboho allegedly did in Nigeria that got him arrested but that Igboho did something illegal in Benin.
“So, according to the judge, investigations into how and why, with whom Igboho committed the offence, was what made them lock him up in prison.
“Right now, he has not been judged neither has there been a day fixed for hearing. His lawyers will have to go to the judge and ask for a date so that Igboho will be taken away from prison while their investigation is ongoing. When the judge finishes his investigation, he will send us to the judge that gives verdict so we will inform Igboho and that will be public.
“But before the court hearing, it is permitted by the law of the Benin Republic that we ask that Igboho be freed till then. We can ask the judge (the one that decides whether to release or detain an accused person) to release him till the hearing. When it is time, he will come.”
This article was originally published on Nigeria News