No Group, Individual Sponsoring Igboho’s Cases-Counsel
Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN, counsel to Chief Sunday Igboho (aka Igboho Oosa), has debunked tye insinuation that some groups and individuals are laying class me to sponsoring the two suits filed by the Yoruba Nation agitator.
Igboho, who is standing trial in the Republic of Benin, had filed two cases, both in Abuja and in Ibadan, the Oyo State over his fundamental human rights and the continued detention of some of his aides.
There have been reports that some individuals and groups are sponsoring the two cases, just as they are also criticising the bail conditions attached by the court to his release.
Igboho’s counsel, Chief Alliyu, in a release, however, put a lie to the claims, declaring that such groups and individuals have nothing to do with the two cases.
“We want to be quick to say that as at today no group and/or individual has contributed a kobo to the two cases going on in Nigeria to wit, his aides case in Abuja and the Ibadan matter.
“Various peanuts offered by some very loud groups have been turned down by me on my client’s instructions,” Alliyu said in the release.
He further disclosed that the embattled Yoruba Nation agitator has been carrying his cross alone with no assistance from anybody, both at home or abroad.
He challenged who have anything contrary to his stand to make it public, adding: “People should be brave to challenge any individual and/or group asking them for money on bail on his behalf or those of his aides.
“Bail is free in all courts in Nigeria and as such neither Igboho nor his aides need assistance on bail. Our client is willing and able to prosecute his matters to logical conclusions without peanuts being offered by those claiming to be involved in his struggle.
“We also wish to educate those criticising the bail conditions ordered by the Federal High Court, Abuja. The criticisms are unfounded and only came out of ignorance of the law on bail.
“The judge has a discretion which had been exercised by him judicial and judiciously in our matter.
“The sagacity and bravery of the Judiciary should be commended in this season of anomy where security outfits, especially DSS, are lords unto themselves with no respect for the rule of law and or institution for same.
“We should not forget so soon the invasion of judges homes in what they tagged “sting operations” to embarrass not the judges concerned but to cow the institution into total submission and oblivion.
“This is why every democrat and believers in the rule of law should give loud ovations to Igweatu J. Of the Federal High Court, Abuja and Diran Akintola J. of Oyo State High Court. Today is definitely history tomorrow.”
Speaking further on the issue of bail, Alliyu said it is always for an individual, adding that it can never be jointly granted.
“If two people stands for eight defendants, what happens if one absconds? Will the judge now lift the bail hitherto granted to the rest seven?
“The group criticising the bail terms have very eminent lawyers in their midst and have direct access to the undersigned thereby putting serious doubt as to whether the criticism emanated from them or from the usual fifth columnists in the security outfits bent on putting wedges on the joint efforts of the populace searching for justice.
“If we have problem in perfecting the terms of the bail we can always go back to court for variation or, at worst, appeal. Definitely we cannot do any of these on the pages of newspapers and neither shall we encourage anybody to do that for our clients.
“We are not oblivious of the facts that our client’s matter cuts across diverse interests in Nigeria, especially Yoruba, but his legal teams comprise of almost all ethnic groups in Nigeria since justice has neither colour nor smell. It is in this wise that we implore all to kindly ask for clarifications from us before passing comments in the media.
“So far so good all the parties concerned have not shown any act inimical to the course of justice in the two matters before the court.
“We must put on record efforts by Oodua Nation Group to stand as sureties for their members and all others granted bail by the Federal High Court, Abuja.”
