The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the Government of the Republic of Benin to pay Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Igboho, a sum of 20 million CFA within three months for unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.
The PUNCH reports that Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, in July 2021 in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
It will also be recalled that 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, while the application was filed before the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, on February 10, 2022.
In their unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara; Sengu M. Koroma and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Goncalves, in matter marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/15/22 Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) vs Republic of Benin, the court also ordered the country to comply with its order and report back to the court with the evidence of payment.
Counsel for Adeyemo include Tosin Ojaomo, Aderemilekun Omojola, Dr Janet Fashakin, and Irene Aclombessi, representing the Republic of Benin.
A court document obtained by The PUNCH read, “Orders sought wherefore 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 Adeyemo;
“(2) An Order for the immediate and unconditional release of Adeyemo, along with his Nigerian passport, pending litigation and determination of damages, and (3) Such orders as this honourable court may deem fit.”
Adeyemo had planned a “Yoruba nation rally” in Lagos two days before a combined team of the Nigeria Army and the Department of State Services raided his residence in the Soka area in Ibadan, Oyo State, on July 1, 2021.
Credit-Punch
