Arrest of “Brother Hounvi” : The two ”hic” according to Master Agbodjo

In the hustle and bustle of reactions following the arrest of ”Brother Hounvi”, we note those of men of rights. Especially, that of Master Renaud Agbodjo. For the lawyer of the Democrats party, the arrest of the young person poses two legal problems. He picked it up, on Sunday 18 August 2024 at the headquarters of the party “The Democrats” in Cotonou, on the sidelines of the press conference hosted by the opposition party.

Arrested on Monday 12 August 2024 in Lomé by unidentified individuals, Steve Amoussou alias Brother Hounvi is brought back to Benin and is in the bonds of justice. In its exports, Me Renaud Agbodjo, lawyer at the Benin bar, indicates that this arrest poses two legal problems. The first is linked to the territory. The ”Brother Hounvi” was located in a territorial area which “is not under the public power of Benin” at the time of his arrest, he points out.

The other legal aspect of the act, is the form of the arrest according to the lawyer. << Those who kidnapped him did not come to him, did not present him with an arrest warrant, a mandate to bring even less to reveal their identity >> informs Me Renaud Agbodjo.

He notes that, when an arrest is made on Beninese territory, for example, “the individuals who come to question you, if they are law enforcement officers, they must state their identity, present their judicial police official card and tell you why they want to arrest you and the title which allows them to arrest you.”, note Master Agbodjo, there was no arrest warrant against Brother Hounvi. In his presentation, he also enlightened the press on the process to follow in the event that an investigating judge had issued an international arrest warrant against a person.

The debate is therefore open on the arrest and extradition of “Brother Hounvi” can we thus understand.

Arnaud ACAKPO (Coll)