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The Cour De’appal De Cotonou, in Benin Republic, on Monday, granted embattled Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho access to medical care.
This was after the court sitting which lasted for more than 10 hours.
It was gathered that Igboho’s lawyers tried to secure bail for him, but the court only granted him access to medical care after the marathon sessions which ended around past 11pm (Nigerian time).
It was learnt that the court proceeding took that long because the system of law in Benin Republic was different from the system of law in Nigeria. Nigeria practises an adversarial system of justice but Benin Republic has an inquisitorial system, a justice system in which the judge delves into the matter to enquire like the investigator, asking questions and probing the suspects.
It was also gathered that at least six lawyers represented the Federal Government of Nigeria in court on Monday. The legal representatives were a combination of local and international lawyers as well as French-speaking and English-speaking lawyers.
Earlier, the court barred journalists and supporters of Igboho from the courtroom but allowed the agitator’s lawyers and his wife, Ropo, inside the courtroom.
The court investigated the allegations brought against Igboho by the Federal Government of Nigeria which claimed, among other things, that the activist is a gun runner who caused disunity in the country.
(The Punch)