THE Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams, yesterday, described the continuous detention of Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, fondly called Sunday Igboho without trial a misplacement of justice, insisting the Beninese court has no respect for human rights.
He, however, commended the efforts of the activist’s Counsel, Chief Yomi Aliyyu (SAN), to seek redress from the ECOWAS Court.
Adams, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, expressed disappointment at the manner with which the Republic of Benin handled Igboho’s case.
He argued that Igboho’s prolonged detention has shown that the law of the Beninese government is not respecter of human rights.
The statement reads: “There was misplacement of justice in the way Igboho’s detention was extended without trial. It is evident that Beninese government has taken Igboho’s case far beyond the normal legal procedures.
“He did not commit any crime. He was just expressing his displeasure under the ambit of the law. However, despite the fact that there were no criminal charges against him, the Benin Republic Court still detained him unjustly without trial.
“The extension of the detention of Igboho further exposed the frailty in the administration of justice. The young man’s rights have been abused without trial. He had not been convicted of any offence. The law of any country that claims to be guided by the rule of law should be explicit on the rights of the citizens.
“Having spent over six months unjustly in Benin detention, it is sad that the young man’s rights have been trampled upon, especially, for spending much longer than it should be for a person who had not been convicted of any offence and a person who is not a criminal by any standard.”
