Igboho removed from wanted list after monarchs’ intervention

By Adejayan Gbenga

Yoruba Nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been removed from the Federal Government’s list of wanted persons following the intervention of prominent traditional rulers in the South-West.

Igboho’s spokesperson, Olayomi Koiki, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, noting that all arrangements had been concluded for Igboho’s return to Nigeria after the monarchs appealed to President Bola Tinubu.

According to Koiki, the traditional rulers who intervened include the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, among others.

Igboho fled Nigeria on July 1, 2021, after a raid on his Ibadan residence by operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army over allegations of stockpiling arms and ammunition.

The raid, which occurred amid his campaign against armed Fulani herdsmen in the South-West, reportedly led to the killing of three of his aides, while 13 others were arrested.

Igboho later escaped to the Benin Republic, where he was arrested at the Cotonou Airport on July 19, 2021, while attempting to travel to Germany. He was detained for over a year before his release in March 2022.

Under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Igboho was declared wanted, denied access to a Nigerian passport, and had his bank accounts frozen, despite favourable court rulings in some of his cases.

Koiki said the Presidency has now cleared Igboho to return home, adding that the activist expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the traditional rulers, and Yoruba sons and daughters worldwide for their support throughout his ordeal.