Buratai meets Benin Republic president amid Sunday Igboho saga

Tukur Buratai and Benin Republic President Patrice Talon

Former chief of army staff and Nigeria’s ambassador to Benin Republic Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) has met with the president of Benin Republic Patrice Talon.

The duo met on Tuesday during the official presentation of Buratai’s letter of credence. The visit comes amid the ongoing court case involving a Nigerian Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho who was arrested in Benin Republic while trying to board a flight to Germany.

Nigeria had placed Sunday Igboho on its watch list for allegedly stockpiling ammunition. The extradition case, according to lawyers familiar with the matter, has suffered setbacks due to the Nigerian government’s inability to prove its case against Sunday Igboho.

Also, the ambassador of Germany to Benin Republic, Michael Derus; as well as those of Ghana, Gabon, and Norway also presented their letters of credence to Mr Talon.

In a statement, the Beninese government said Talon granted audience to each of the new ambassadors and discussed with them on the revitalisation and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between these different countries and Benin.

Talon was also said to have received a brief update on the state of cooperation between Benin, Nigeria and the other countries.

“The President of the Republic also took the opportunity to invite the new Ambassadors to work more on consolidating and strengthening the warm relations that already exist between their countries and Benin,” the statement added.

It was, however, not clear if Buratai discussed Sunday Igboho’s extradition with the Beninese leader.