FG claims Sunday Igboho is trying to get new passport to escape from Nigeria

The federal government has said that Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Igboho, is trying to obtain a new passport to escape from Nigeria after being placed on the stop-list in order to facilitate his arrest.

The FG said this in a letter dated July 9 and signed by A.B. Baba, assistant comptroller general of immigration, investigation and compliance, on behalf of the comptroller general of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS).

The NIS letter titled “Stop-listing of person” is addressed to the director-general of the DSS, the inspector-general of police, the director-general, National Intelligence Agency, and all zonal coordinators and control posts of the NIS.

The letter carries the information of “Adeyemo Sunday Adeniyi (aka Sunday Igboho), male, Nigerian, passport number A11613637, date of birth 10/10/1972.”

A person whose name is on the stop-list is deprived of particular rights, privileges, or other services he or she ought to enjoy.

In the NIS letter, the federal government alleged that Ighoho is making efforts to obtain a police extract and/or court affidavit to enable him to acquire a new Nigerian passport.

It said the alleged attempt is to facilitate his escape out of the country.

The NIS added that the activist should be arrested whenever sighted.

“I am directed to request that you kindly place the above-named person on stop-list,” the letter reads.

“Credible intelligence revealed that Adeyemo is making efforts to obtain a police extract and/or court affidavit to enable him acquire a new Nigerian passport, apparently to facilitate his escape out of the country.

“In addition, he should be arrested wherever and whenever sighted and referred to the Director-General, Department of State Services vide letter no: S.605/A/246 dated 05 July 2021.”

Sunday Igboho, who spearheads the separatist agitation for the Yoruba Nation, had been declared wanted by the Department of State Services on allegations of stockpiling arms to destabilise the country, which he has since denied.

On July 1, the Department of State Services (DSS) raided Ighoho’s residence in Soka area of Ibadan, Oyo state capital, during which his passport was seized.

The whereabouts of Igboho has been unknown since he narrowly escaped arrest during the July 1 midnight raid by the secret police, ahead of a major rally in support of the call for Yoruba Nation in Lagos.