Five days after the arrest of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou, Benin Republic, it is becoming increasingly clear that the legal battle to either extradite him to Nigeria or hand him back his freedom might get protracted.

Yesterday, despite the presence of his lawyer and supporters at the Cour Deappal De Cotonou, the case was not heard. The trail judge had last Thursday adjourned the case to yesterday after ordering the release of his wife, Ropo, whom it ruled had not committed any offence.

One of Igbohos lawyers, Yomi Aliu (SAN) told The Guardian that the case was not heard yesterday but was adjourned to Monday, July 26.

This is even as another of his counsels, Ibrahim David Salami, has clarified that Igboho was arrested with Nigerian and German passports contrary to claims that he was being tried for possessing a Beninise passport despite not being a citizen of the country.

Salami told BBC Yoruba that, 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 passport. His wife had only her German passport on her at the point of arrest.

Meanwhile, Maxwell Adeleye, the Communications Manager of the umbrella body of Yoruba self-determination groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, has disclosed that Nigeria did not file any charge against Igboho when he was arraigned at the court on Thursday.

Adeleye, in a statement yesterday, said the lawyers handling the case reported after Thursdays proceedings that lgboho could not be extradited to Nigeria.

The statement read: Yesterday (Thursday) the court set Mrs. Adeyemo, lgbohos wife, free since it has been found that she has committed no offence and theres no complain whatsoever against her. Consequently, her German passport was returned to her.

The lawyers handling the case reported after the proceedings that Chief Sunday Adeyemo lgboho cannot be extradited to Nigeria for two principal reasons: 1. That contrary to insinuations, Nigeria and Benin have no Extradition Agreement; 2. That Nigeria has not been able to come up with charges that could lead the court to order lgbohos extradition to Nigeria. 

What Nigerian Government came up with were mere allegations against Ighoho such as trafficking in arms and inciting violence that could result in the social disturbance without evidence which the Government of Benin Republic considered spurious and untenable, and insufficient to warrant extradition.

Lastly, the case has been adjourned till Monday, July 26 to allow the Nigerian Government bring up whatever evidence they may have, and Mr. lgboho has been taken back to the police custody.

In a related development, a Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce the 12 detained associates of Igboho before it on July 29.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order yesterday after counsel to the applicants, Pelumi Olajengbesi, moved the ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2021 dated July 7 and filed July 8.

Olajemgbesi had told the Court that the 12 associates of Igboho had been held incommunicado in an underground cell since their arrest on July 2.
 
The Judge also ordered the DSS boss to appear in court on the day to show cause why the court should not admit Igbohos aides to bail conditionally or unconditionally.

The judge also granted the plea of the applicant, through the affidavit of urgency filed on why the matter should be heard expeditiously irrespective of the imminent court vacation.

The court said that it has taken into consideration the provisions of Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Section 32 of the Administration of Human Right Act and saw the need to interfere in the matter of the applicants.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently ordered parties in the matter to appear before him next week Thursday. Applicants in the matter are Abdulateef Ofeyagbe, Amoda Babatunde, Tajudeen Erinoyen, Diakola Ademola, Abideen Shittu, Jamiu Noah, and Ayobami Donald. Others are Adelabe Usman, Oluwapelimi Kunle, Raji Kazeem, Taiwo Opeyemi and Bamidele Sunday.

The two respondents in the matter are Director General of the DSS and the DSS. As the legal battle for the release of Igboho and his associates continues, leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has declared that the Federal Government has no right to seek Igbohos extradition from Benin Republic.

The 93-year-old, who spoke in a chat with Arise TV on Thursday monitored by The Guardian, said Igboho was leading a popular revolt, adding that the Federal Government was terrified of his popularity.

His words: He (Igboho) is a political refugee. He didnt commit any crime here. He didnt waylay or kill anybody. He didnt run away from anybody after committing a crime. He ran for his life because the-power-that-be wants to kill him because of his agitation, because hes leading a popular revolt.

When they see the crowd that Igboho is pulling at every meeting, that is what is terrifying them. Can Buhari summon the crowd that Igboho is summoning each time he holds a meeting, even with the fact that he (Buhari) gives money to who will attend the meeting, that is a rented crowd?

You are looking for somebodys life and you ask him to come and surrender himself. Who will do that? He has muzzled everybody. The press cant talk and there is a limit to questions that broadcasters can ask now without them closing the station.

Recall that in a bloody raid on Igbohos Soka residence in Ibadan, Oyo State on July 1, this year, the DSS had arrested and detained 13 of his associates. Two of Igbohos supporters later identified as Adogan and Alfa were also killed during the raid.

The secret police later presented seven AK-47 rifles allegedly recovered from the house during the raid as well as three pump-action guns, 30 fully charged AK-47 magazines, 5,000 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, five cutlasses, one jack-knife, one pen knife, two pistol holsters, a pair of binoculars, a wallet containing $5, local and international driving licences in his name, ATM cards, a German residence permit No. YO2N6K1NY bearing his name, two whistles, 50 cartridges and 18 walkie-talkies.

Others were three charm jackets/traditional body armour, two laptops, one Toshiba and one Compaq laptop, Igbohos passport and those of his aides.

The DSS had said its operatives carried out the raid after an intelligence report confirmed that he was stockpiling arms in the home.

Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho is now on the run. Igboho may run as far as he can. He may hide as long as he wants. He might have attacked security operatives as his strength carried him. But this will be the end of his shenanigans. Soon, he will not have a hiding place. His strength will sure fail him. And the law will catch up with him. The law may be slow. But it will be steady, DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, had declared. 

With the fanfare, the theatre, the famous athletes carrying the flag, the kabuki dance and the glistening fireworks, yesterdays opening ceremony saw the host, Japan, display its rich culture, particularly with show of light and colour.

Amidst searing heat outside the stadium, the atmosphere was not exactly party-like. But hundreds of Japanese locals brimmed with anticipation and pride despite the widespread opposition to the Games

About 950 VIPs and world leaders inside the 68,000-seat main arena in Tokyo watched yesterdays display amid rising COVID-19 case totals in the country, which forced organisers to ban crowds.

The opening ceremonies saw directors made the best use of projection technology to add colour and pageantry. Several large volleys of firework did add a burst of sound to what was otherwise an eerily quiet event, after organisers opted against playing artificial crowd noises in the arena.

A moment of silence for all victims of the COVID-19 pandemic was also observed, after which dancers representing Japanese woodworkers took the stage representing the countrys history and culture.

They formed Olympic rings made from the wood of trees planted the last time Japan hosted the Olympics in 1964, before the traditional Parade of Nations with athletes filing into the arena under the banners of their countries though their numbers were much-reduced from previous years.

Plagued by the pandemic, scandals among officials, and strongly divided opinions among locals, Japan will hope the touching spectacle will help coalesce positive feeling around the 13billion sporting extravaganza.

A BBC Sports reporter, who covered the opening ceremony said: As night falls, happy smiles are replaced by angry chanting. As we are asked to stand and observe a moment of silence to commemorate all those who have died of COVID in the past year, we can clearly hear the protesters outside the stadium. Its an eerie, sobering reminder that most people in Japan are furious these games are still taking place.

There are hundreds of people gathered who are chanting, among other things, stop the Olympics. A poll in the leading Asahi Shimbun newspaper in May suggested more than 80 percent of the population want the Games cancelled or postponed.

Meanwhile, Team Nigeria began its quest for medals on a good note yesterday with Esther Toko placing 5th in her heat in the Rowing event. The Nigerian overcame stiff challenge from other competitors in womens single sculls with a time of 8:58.49. She will now compete in the repechage today for a chance at making the quarterfinals.