After a two-year imprisonment in the Benin Republic, Yoruba Nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, expressed gratitude to several Yoruba leaders, including former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, Afenifere leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Professor Banji Akintoye, Nobel Prize winner Professor Wole Soyinka, and other significant figures for their relentless efforts in securing his release.
Sunday Igboho was detained on July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic, while en route to Germany. This arrest came after a raid on his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, by Nigeria’s Department of State Services, who accused him of amassing weapons.
In a heartfelt statement shared via his Instagram, Igboho recognized the pivotal role played by these leaders and other influential figures in ensuring his freedom. The statement titled, “My Release in Benin Republic,” reads in part: “I owe immense gratitude to God and want to deeply thank all Yoruba individuals globally for their unwavering support. My deep appreciation goes to President Talon of the Benin Republic, Professor Banji Akintoye, Professor Wole Soyinka, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and Baba Ayo Adebanjo.”
Furthermore, he remembered his late mother and emphasized her significant role in his life. He also showed appreciation for religious leaders across different faiths and urged more support from royal fathers, Obas, and Chiefs in Yoruba land to help free the Yoruba territory.
Igboho hinted at his impending return to Nigeria: “I’ve met all legal prerequisites for my bail. I can assure everyone that I will be returning to my homeland, Nigeria, very soon.”
Igboho’s legal representative, Yomi Aliyu, SAN, corroborated the activist’s release, adding, “He is free from the Benin Republic. Our legal approach was instrumental in revealing the lack of a concrete case by the Nigerian government against him, leading to his transition from prison to house arrest.”
