Buratai had a plane waiting to illegally extradite Igboho but Benin Republic said no – Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has alleged Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai, wanted Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, thrown into a waiting aircraft without taking him to court.  

Falana who spoke when he appeared on Channels Television on Thursday, said Burutai was willing to go against the rule of law to extradite Igboho to Nigeria. 

According to him, the Nigerian Ambassador was not interested in following the rule of law in getting Igboho extradited to Nigeria.  

Igboho has been in detention in Benin Republic since his arrest on July 19. after fleeing Nigeria to evade arrest by Nigeria’s secret police. He was trying to leave for Germany through Benin Republic. 

Speaking on the Channels Television’s programme Politics Today on Thursday, Falana said Buratai, a former Nigeria’s chief of army staff, wanted Igboho to be handed over to him so he could be brought to Nigeria.  

Falana said, “In the case of Sunday Igboho, again despite my disagreement with him, I came out to say you cannot just throw him into a waiting plane as we were told, it was attempted. 

“You have to go to court. You have to make a request under international law, under the ECOWAS convention on extradition. 

“The government of Nigeria is requested to submit an extradition request to the government of Benin Republic and so when the plenipotentiary, General Yusuf Buratai (retired), who at that time had not submitted his letters of credence asked that Igboho be handed over to him.

“He was told, ‘sorry, we operate the rule of law here’. That is why that matter is still in court.”