A Yoruba self-determination activist, Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho has denied a viral claim that he is on the verge of returning to Nigeria.
This was stated by Igboho’s spokesman, Olayomi Koiki, who claimed that his principal had no plans to visit his home country, Nigeria anytime soon.
Koiki said he had been directed to notify the international community and media outlets in Nigeria disseminating the “false information” that Ighoho was not returning to Nigeria yet.
He went on to say that the footage being circulated online was released when Igboho departed the Benin Republic after being incarcerated there for a few months.
Igboho fled Nigeria to Benin Republic in 2021 after an attack on his residence in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital by the Department of State Services (DSS). Two people were killed during the raid and 12 of his aides were arrested.
However, he was arrested in Benin Republic while trying to leave the country for Germany.
Igboho was subsequently detained in the West African country and released in March 2022.
The video that was distributed had a release date of April 7, 2022, and it is the same video that is still being distributed, according to Koiki.
Koiki said, "I have been told to tell mainstream media, bloggers, and offline media if you do need any clarification on Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho to get in touch with or spoke man Olayomi Koiki myself then you can do so by getting in touch with me at [email protected].
"We kindly request that none of you spread untrue information about Dr. Chief Sunday Igboho, who is now in the Benin Republic.
"Again, thank you to President Patrice Talon of the Benin Republic for ensuring that Dr. Chief Suday Adeyemo remains in the country so that he can continue to be protected by the laws pertaining to human rights, international law, and the universal declaration. that Dr. Chief Sunday Igbo was denied by Nigeria.”
Sunday Igboho, according to Koiki, did not grant anyone permission to speak on his behalf and to announce that he would be returning to Nigeria shortly.
“As I previously indicated, we are grateful to Patrice Talo, President of the Benin Republic, for making Dr. Sunday Igboho's stay as comfortable as possible while he continues to fight for a single cause—the Yoruba Nation movement,” he said.
The spokesperson warned media outlets propagating the message not to use Dr. Chief Sunday Igbo's name in any way they were not allowed to.
“If they do, each of the bloggers, streaming social media platforms, offline media outlets, and others will face legal action,” Koiki said.