Barring any last-minute developments, arrangements have been concluded for the return of renowned Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, to Nigeria after four years in self-imposed exile.
This disclosure was made by his spokesperson, Mr. Olayomi Koiki, who confirmed that Igboho’s anticipated homecoming followed sustained interventions by eminent traditional rulers in the South West.
According to Koiki, the reconciliation process was spearheaded by notable monarchs, including the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olushola Alao, among others. Their collective efforts, he said, paved the way for the activist’s clearance by the Federal Government.
The statement revealed that Igboho has reportedly received approval from the Presidency and could return to the country at any moment, with assurances of full reintegration upon arrival.
Recalling the circumstances that led to his exile, the statement noted that Igboho fled Nigeria on July 1, 2021, following a raid on his residence in Ibadan by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), supported by the Nigerian Army, over allegations of illegal possession of arms and ammunition. The operation resulted in the death of three of his aides, while 13 others were arrested.
Koiki further disclosed that in 2025, during a visit to the palace of the Olugbon of Orile Igbon in Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State, Igboho openly expressed his frustration over his prolonged stay in exile and appealed to the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to remove his name from the wanted list.
The statement also recalled that the immediate past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had declared the activist wanted, restricted his access to a Nigerian passport, and froze his bank accounts, despite court judgments reportedly delivered in his favour.
“This is a moment of joy for Ibadanland and Yorubaland as a whole,” the statement read. “Chief Adeyemo has been cleared to return to Nigeria and is no longer being sought by any government authority.
“With the intervention and support of our revered royal fathers—the Olubadan of Ibadan land, the Ooni of Ife, the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, and others—Chief Sunday Adeyemo is now free to return home. He is a free man and will soon be back in Ibadan.”
The statement conveyed Igboho’s deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his intervention, while also commending South West traditional rulers and Yoruba sons and daughters across the globe for their unwavering support throughout his ordeal.
Following the July 2021 raid on his Ibadan residence, Igboho fled to the Benin Republic, from where he attempted to travel to Germany. He was arrested on July 19, 2021, at the Cotonou Airport while trying to board a flight and was subsequently detained for over a year before gaining his release in March 2022.
