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 activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, a sum of 20 million CFA.
The court ordered that the money should be paid within three months for his unlawful detention and violation of his fundamental human rights.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Gberi-Bé Ouattara, Sengu M. Koroma, and Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Goncalves, in suit number: ECW/CCJ/APP/15/22, the regional court ordered the Francophone country to comply with its order to pay 20 million CFA to Adeyemo within three months and also report back to the court with the evidence of payment.
The judgment followed the application brought before the court by Adeyemo against the defendant (Benin Republic), challenging his arrest and detention in the French-speaking country on 21 July 2021.
According to the court documents, “Orders sought wherefore Chief Adeyemo prays for the following from this Honourable Court: 1 Pursuant to Article 59 of Rules of Procedure, an expedited procedure and hearing regarding the imprisonment and release of Chief Adeyemo”.
Igboho was arrested alongside his wife, Ropo, on 20 July 2021, in Cotonou, Benin Republic, and detained at the request of the Nigerian government.
The Yoruba nation agitator had fled Nigeria after a combined team of the Nigeria Army and the Department of State Services (DSS) operatives raided his residence, located around the Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on 1 July 2021.
