Benin Republic says NO to Nigeria

Cotonou Court D’Appal has refused to grant the extradition appeal of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho to Nigeria

The Court D’Appal, which was expected to start hearing the case at 10:00am, barred reporters and supporters of Igboho who besieged the premises.

His supporters became apprehensive when the trial, which was adjourned on Thursday, did not commence throughout the day.

His supporters besieged the court, waiting for the proceedings to begin, but the prolonged delay heightened their anxiety.

They included some traditional rulers, who became increasingly worried over where the pendulum of justice would swing in the extradition request brought against him by Nigeria.

As early as 8 am, many supporters from Nigeria, and in the Benin Republic, started arriving at the court premises.

But the trial did not start, leaving them frustrated.

Exhausted about 3pm, many of them were seen sleeping on bare floor. They refused to leave the court premises despite repeated entreaties from court and security personnel. “He will be freed unfailingly today no matter how long the delay lasts,” an Igboho supporter said.

About 7.30pm, the police dispersed them from the court premises after waiting for about 12 hours. The stern security personnel, who came in two Hilux vans, insisted that everyone, including journalists, should vacate the scene.

However, The hearing commenced at about 5:00pm. The court proceeding took a long time because the system of law in the Benin Republic is different from the system of law in Nigeria.

Nigeria practises an adversarial system of justice but the Benin Republic has an inquisitorial system, a justice system in which the judge delves into the matter to enquire like the investigator, asking questions and probing the suspects.

According to our correspondent, the court ruled that the agitator be kept in prison custody pending further investigation.

It was revealed that the Federal Government of Nigeria was represented by six lawyers in court on Monday.