Some security operatives attempted to arrest Sunday Igboho on Friday
February 28, 2021
Chief Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN, OFR, FCIArb, Ph.D, LL.D
A human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, has advised a self-styled Yoruba warlord, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to seek court protection from being arrested and detained by security operatives.
Mr Ozekhome gave the advice in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday to condemn the attempted arrest of Mr Igboho.
This newspaper reported how security operatives attached to Operation Burst, a joint police-military outfit, in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, attempted to arrest Mr Igboho.
He was accosted on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway while on his way to meet an elder statesman, Ayo Adebanjo.
While the state police spokesperson, Olugbenga Fadeyi, refused to speak on what played out in Ibadan on Friday, the spokesperson of the State Security Service (SSS) Peter Afunanya, said its officers were not part of the operation.
Mr Igboho, who confirmed the incident, said authorities should go after Boko Haram leader, Ibrahim Shekau, and Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, who has been holding meetings with bandits before coming for him.
In his statement, Mr Ozekhome said the attempt to arrest the acclaimed warrior is an act of terrorism, advising that authorities ought to have sent him an invitation if they felt he had committed an offence.
“If the security agents felt there were any internal security issues or breach of the law, they should have invited him to the DSS or police office,” he said.
“It became, therefore, totally absurd that a whole security armada like soldiers, the police and the DSS will waylay an innocent Nigerian citizen in a commando-like manner and attempt to abduct him. At least, Nigerians have not been told he has committed an offence, or what offence, if any.
