Sunday Igboho was arrested alongside his wife Ropo in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), sitting in Abuja, has ordered the government of Benin Republic to pay Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, the sum of 20 million CFA for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.
Ruling unanimously on Tuesday, the court said the money should be paid to the plaintiff within three months, starting from the day the judgment to that effect was delivered.
The judgment was delivered by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara, Sengu Koroma, and Ricardo Monteiro. The court ordered the Benin government to report back with the evidence of payment.
The judgment followed the application brought before the court by Sunday Igboho against the defendant (Benin Republic), challenging his arrest and detention in the French-speaking country.
The application was filed before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, on February 10, 2022.
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On July 20, 2021, Sunday Igboho was arrested alongside his wife Ropo in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
The Yoruba Nation agitator fled Nigeria after security operatives raided his residence in Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State capital on July 1, 2021.
The Department of State Services (DSS) under the Buhari administration alleged that Sunday 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.