…Says Yoruba are adequately represented by lawyers and Yoruba in Cotonou
Yoruba agitation group, Yoruba Self Determination Worldwide has asked activists from Nigeria to stay away from attending the Court room Monday for beginning of trial of agitator,Sunday Igboho,expected to commence .
In a statement issued on behalf of it’s leader,Senator Banji Akintoye, Olasupo Ojo,counsel to the group said since the court in Cotonou is not build to host a large crowd as done in Nigeria,it is advisable for activists from Nigeria not to go near the court.
Besides,he said that too much crowd in the court may lead credence to the federal government’s claims that the accused ,Igboho is a violent man who is out to cause mayhem in court.
The Yoruba leader stated further that since the group has hired competent lawyers to handle the case it is better they are left alone.
He also counselled that Yorubas of Nigerian descent living in Cotonou have already shown enough solidarity with the trial and should be left alone since they understand the country’s legal system and code of conduct.
Full statement below:
Information has reached us that many Yoruba Nation Self-determination activists are
planning to go and witness, and even protest at the court proceedings involving Chief Sunday
Adeyemo Igboho in Benin Republic court. Based on my meeting and discussion with the
lawyers representing Sunday Igboho, it has become necessary to issue this statement as
follows:
1. We commend and appreciate the immense support already received from all Yorubas,
Yoruba groups and friends of Yorubas worldwide.
2. We have assembled the best lawyers within Republic of Benin and an International law
expert from Paris, France for the legal defence of Chief Sunday Igboho and they are all
working well under our supervision. We are satisfied with their work up till now.
3. The Court system and judges in Benin Republic are different from the Nigerian Court
system and judges. They are not used to having a crowded court premises hence they may
misinterpret the presence of too much people in the Court premises as attempt to harass,
intimidate and overwhelm the court which opinion can have negative effect on Chief
Sunday Igboho.
4. The Nigerian government has falsely painted a bad picture that Chief Sunday Adeyemo is
a gun-runner and a terrorist with large followership. The presence of crowds may be
capitalised upon by the Nigerian Government lawyers as corroborative of their
allegations.
5. The presence of a huge crowd may pose some security concerns to security agencies and
operatives in Benin Republic and may compel them to adopt some stringent measures to
prevent a crowded court and attendant danger.
6. Our lawyers are not comfortable with the prospect of too much crowd spoiling their good
work and have urged that we appeal to our people to refrain from crowding the court.
We therefore urge all lovers of the Yoruba Nation and Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho Oosa in
Nigeria to please refrain from going to Cotonou for the Court proceedings. Such trip may be
rendered useless by the inadequate size of the Court Room. We shall adequately represented
by the Yoruba Community in Benin Republic. They have been very wonderful hence we should
allow them to represent us very well.
We promise that detailed report of proceedings in court shall be made public after the court
sittings. We crave the understanding of everyone in this sensitive matter.
Thanks.
BARR. OLASUPO OJO
Legal Adviser
For: Professor Banji Akintoye
Leader. Yoruba Self-determination Movement World
