ECOWAS court awards Sunday Igboho 20 million CFA over unlawful detention in Benin Republic
The Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) sitting in Abuja has ordered the government of the Republic of Benin to pay Yoruba Nation agitator Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho 20 million CFA over unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Tuesday by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara, Sengu Koroma, and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro, the court directed that the money must be paid to Sunday Igboho within three months starting from December 5.
The court also ordered the Francophone country to report back with the evidence of payment.
The judgment followed the application brought before the court by Sunday Igboho against the defendant (Benin Republic), challenging his arrest and detention in the French-speaking country.
The application was filed before the ECOWAS court on February 10, 2022.
On July 20, 2021, Sunday Igboho was arrested alongside his wife Ropo in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
The Yoruba Nation agitator fled Nigeria after security operatives raided his residence in Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State capital on July 1, 2021.
The Department of State Services (DSS) under the Buhari administration alleged that Sunday Igboho was stockpiling weapons and subsequently declared him wanted. Attempts to repatriate him failed.
