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No, Nigeria's Yoruba separatist Sunday Adeyemo still in custody in Benin, but wife Ropo Adeyemo released

A post shared on Facebook in Nigeria on 20 July 2021 claims that Sunday Adeyemo and his wife Ropo Adeyemo have been released from custody in Benin and allowed to board a plane to Germany.

Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been campaigning for the self-determination of the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria.

The Facebook post reads: “Breaking news!!!! Sunday Adeyemo (AKA) Igboho and his wife German citizen has been released and allows to board plane on their way to Germany #BeninRepublicNoBeKenya.”

The post has been shared several times and some commenters were happy.

One Facebook user said: “Just can't express my joy for the great news!!!”

Another said: “Good to hear this, shame to the haters.”

However, others said the claim was not true.

Were Sunday and Ropo Adeyemo jailed and have they been released from custody in Benin?

Adeyemo_False

Igboho still held but wife released

The Adeyemos fled Nigeria for the neighbouring Republic of Benin in early July after their Ibadan home was raided by the the Department of State Services.

Ammunition and weapons were found on the premises during the raid.

The Nigerian government then issued a warrant for Sunday Adeyemo’s arrest.

On 19 July, the couple were arrested in the port city of Cotonou by Beninoise authorities while trying to travel to Germany. Ropo Adeyemo lives in Germany.

The charges brought by the Beninoise court were for immigration-related offences. It ordered Ropo’s release while Sunday remained in custody. 

His trial continued on 26 July. The claims on Facebook are false.

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