OGUN GOV STOOD SURETY FOR IGBOHO’S RETURN TO BURY MOTHER — LAWYER

Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has disclosed that Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, agreed to guarantee the conduct of Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to enable him to return to Nigeria for his mother’s burial.

Olajengbesi made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Sunday after visiting Igboho, whom he described as his elder brother and former client.

The lawyer said their meeting involved discussions about Nigeria, politics, leadership and Igboho’s experiences over the years.

According to Olajengbesi, Igboho contacted him in 2023 following the death of his mother and insisted on returning home to perform her burial rites despite the circumstances surrounding his absence from Nigeria.

Olajengbesi said he subsequently contacted Governor Abiodun to seek his intervention in facilitating Igboho’s return.

He said the governor asked whether the matter had been raised with the then National Security Adviser.

According to the lawyer, Abiodun also expressed the view that President Bola Tinubu would support people whose activities and ideology remained within the law.

Olajengbesi said he later connected Igboho with Abiodun and three other governors, who considered the request.

He disclosed that Abiodun eventually agreed to stand as a guarantor for Igboho’s conduct during a seven-day grace period granted to enable him to attend his mother’s burial.

Igboho returned to Nigeria, performed the burial rites and left the country immediately afterwards, the lawyer said.

Olajengbesi added that the matter was later resolved through interventions involving several prominent Nigerians and engagements conducted within the law.

Igboho had left Nigeria for the Benin Republic in 2021. In February 2024, Olajengbesi had publicly acknowledged Abiodun’s role in facilitating the activist’s peaceful return for the burial.

Recalling his relationship with Igboho, the lawyer described him as a prominent voice in the defence of Yoruba interests and one of the courageous individuals he had encountered.

Olajengbesi said Igboho also recalled how the lawyer supported him during his legal troubles.

He described representing Igboho as an inspiring experience, recalling how the activist would call him while in detention and encourage him during their interactions.

The lawyer said Igboho’s call after his mother’s death was different from previous conversations because he could hear the grief in his voice.

According to Olajengbesi, Igboho told him that he had to return home to pay his final respects to his mother and that her burial could not take place in his absence.

The lawyer said he responded to the situation not only as Igboho’s legal representative but also as someone listening to a grieving man who wanted to fulfil his final responsibility to his mother.

Olajengbesi also acknowledged that Igboho, like every other person, was not perfect, but said his role in contemporary Yoruba history and discussions surrounding the identity, security and aspirations of the Yoruba people remained significant.

He thanked Igboho for the warm reception during his visit and described their conversation as meaningful.