Embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, is expected to receive feedback from Benin Republic authorities on his asylum request this week.

This was disclosed by Igboho’s coordinating counsel, Olasupo Ojo, in an interview with The PUNCH.

WuzupNigeria had reported how the 48-year-old activist was arrested on Monday, July 19, 2021, (alongside his wife, Ropo – who has since been released) by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin on their way to Germany.

The arrest came weeks after his Ibadan residence was raided by security operatives of the Department of State Services, who reportedly killed two of his associates and arrested dozen of his aides.

Igboho who is still remanded in a detention facility in Cotonou has been attempting, through his lawyers, to avoid extradition to Nigeria where he has been.

Reports revealed that his bail application was delayed by his lawyers because of his medical report and the expected outcome of his asylum application among others.

Ojo said that he was yet to get any official report on his asylum.

“I have not got any official report in relation to that,” Ojo said when asked if Igboho had been granted asylum, he said.

Asked if Igboho’s asylum application feedback may be out this week, Ojo added, “Yes, we are expecting feedback this week.”

Corroborating Ojo’s statement, the spokesperson for Ilana Omo Oduduwa, Maxwell Adeleye, said the organisation is expecting a positive response.

“We have submitted an application and we are hoping to get a positive response before the end of the week,” he said on a telephone conversation.

Ibrahim Salami, one of the Cotonou, Benin Republic-based lawyers of Igboho, had explained that charges against Igboho would be neutralised if the activist is granted asylum.

Salami said this while explaining that Igboho was not arrested for possessing a Benin Republic passport despite not being a citizen.

The lawyer had said, “When he left Nigeria, he took the backdoor into Benin. It was at the airport that security operatives stopped him that he was on the watchlist. He didn’t go against any law in Benin Republic. They didn’t find any Beninese passport on him. He had a Nigerian passport with a German residency card. He needed no visa at that point.

“When we understudied the case, we realised that the Nigerian government had not filed a case for extradition. They only claimed that he is wanted in Nigeria for criminal offences. Our argument is that he was arrested because of Nigeria’s request, and there is no proof to show that he is a criminal. He spent barely 24 hours in the country and filed an asylum.”