Human rights lawyer Pelumi Olajengbesi has revealed that Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, agreed to stand as guarantor for Yoruba activist Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, when he returned to Nigeria to attend his mother’s burial in 2023.
Olajengbesi made the disclosure in a Facebook post on Sunday after meeting with Igboho, whom he described as his elder brother and former client. According to the lawyer, their discussion centred on Nigeria, politics, leadership and Igboho’s experiences over the years.
The lawyer said Igboho contacted him in 2023 following the death of his mother and insisted that he had to return home to pay his final respects, despite the circumstances surrounding his absence from Nigeria.
Olajengbesi said he immediately sought Governor Abiodun’s intervention, explaining the situation to him and appealing for assistance.
According to him, Abiodun asked whether he had discussed the matter with the then National Security Adviser. The governor also expressed the view that President Bola Tinubu would support anyone whose activities and ideology remained within the law.
Olajengbesi said he subsequently connected Igboho with Abiodun and three other governors, who considered the request.
He explained that Abiodun eventually agreed to guarantee Igboho’s conduct during a seven-day period granted to enable him to return for his mother’s burial.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun agreed to stand as a guarantor for Chief Igboho’s conduct during the seven-day grace period granted for his mother’s burial,” Olajengbesi said.
According to the lawyer, Igboho returned to Nigeria, performed the necessary burial rites for his mother and left the country immediately afterwards.
He added that the issues surrounding Igboho were later addressed through interventions by several prominent Nigerians, with the matter handled within the ambit of the law.
Olajengbesi recalled that Igboho’s call after his mother’s death was particularly emotional, saying he had never heard the activist speak in such a broken voice.
He said Igboho was determined to return home because he wanted to perform what he considered his final duty to his late mother.
The lawyer also reflected on his experience representing Igboho during the activist’s previous legal troubles. He described Igboho as someone who remained appreciative of those who stood by him during difficult periods.
Igboho left Nigeria for the Republic of Benin in 2021 following security-related developments surrounding his activities. His return for his mother’s burial was subsequently facilitated through the intervention of Abiodun and others, according to Olajengbesi.
The lawyer had also publicly acknowledged Abiodun’s role in February 2024, thanking the governor for his involvement in facilitating Igboho’s peaceful return for the burial.
In his latest statement, Olajengbesi described Igboho as a prominent voice in discussions concerning Yoruba identity, security and aspirations.
He acknowledged that Igboho, like every other individual, may have his shortcomings but maintained that his activities and place in contemporary Yoruba discourse could not be ignored.
The latest disclosure provides further details about the circumstances surrounding Igboho’s temporary return to Nigeria for his mother’s burial and the role the Ogun State governor allegedly played in facilitating the arrangement.
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