The Beninese appeal court sitting in Cotonou have sent Chief Sunday Adeyemo, the Yoruba youth activist known as Sunday Igboho, back to custody.
The Monday hearing lasted 13 hours was concluded at about 11:20pm midnight with sources saying the Yoruba activist may not be immediately extradited to Nigeria.
A source within the court told TheCable that Igboho would not be set free. “The problem is with the extradition, and there is a lot of politics going on”.
Another source added that Igboho repeatedly prayed the court not to be sent back to Nigeria for the fear that he may be killed.
Details of the eventual judgement are still sketchy, but the sources say the judgment means there will be no immediate extradition for the Yoruba youth leader, who has been declared wanted by the government of Nigeria.
Supporters of Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho), who is standing trial in a Court of Appeals in Cotonou, Benin Republic, were barred yesterday from observing his trial.
About 7.30pm, the police dispersed them from the court premises after waiting for about 12 hours.
The stern security personnel, who came in two Hilux vans, insisted that everyone, including journalists, should vacate the scene.