Igboho’s Lawyer Reacts To Claims Of Activist Being Arraigned For Fake Beninese Passport

Sunday “Igboho” Adeyemo’s lawyer in the Benin Republic, Ibrahim Salami, has dismissed reports that the activist was arrested with a fraudulent Beninese passport.

Mr Salami stated that the activist was only discovered with Nigerian and German passports when he was apprehended by police at Cotonou’s Cadjèhoun Airport on Monday.

Mr. Igboho and his wife, Ropo, were apprehended while attempting to board a trip to Germany.

According to allegations in the media, the separatist leader would be tried in Cotonou for obtaining a fraudulent Beninese international passport.

If proven guilty, possessing a forged Beninese passport carries a maximum punishment of 21 years in jail.

But speaking with BBC Yoruba, Mr Salami said, “It is not true that Benin Republic passport was found on Sunday Igboho when he was arrested.

“What was found on him were Nigerian and German passports. His wife had only her German passport on her at the point of arrest,” he added.

On Thursday, Mr. lgboho’s wife was released and her German passport was returned to her, but the activist was remanded in the custody of Brigade Criminelle in Cotonou after the Buhari regime failed to press charges against him.

According to a statement from Ilana Omo Oodua, issued by its spokesman Maxwell Adeleye, the Nigerian government failed to charge Mr Igboho when he appeared in court Friday morning, instead laying claims of arms trafficking and incitement.

The activist’s case has been postponed until July 26.