A Nigerian man, Emmanuel Ihejirika, who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia has regained his freedom after several years in prison.
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in a press statement by the commission’s Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Friday in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa said this was after the case was taken up pro bono by a Nigerian lawyer based in Washington DC, Mr Emmanuel Isha Ogebe.
The press statement, signed by Gabriel Odu, further disclosed that, “At a meeting with Barrister Emmanuel Isha Ogebe in Washington DC, the NIDCOM boss commedded the lawyer for his selflessness and kindness in taking up the case.”
Odu noted that, “Several years back, a delegation from Nigeria, headed by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ojo Madueke, which included Hon Abike Dabiri Erewa, then a member of the House of Representatives, former Chairman NDLEA, Mr. Ipinmosho, among others, had visited Indonesian prison to plead for clemency for 21 Nigerians on death row convicted for drug trafficking. Four of them have been executed along with an Indonesian and British citizen.”
According to the statement, “Nigerian lawyer, Mr. Ogebe, based in the USA, later approached Hon Dabiri-Erewa for her intervention and offered pro bono services for Ihejirika, whose case appeared to be one of mistaken identity.
“He succeeded as he took the case up to the Supreme Court, and Ihejirika was finally let off the hook in December.
“Hon Dabiri-Erewa re-emphasised that penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death adding that Nigerians should stay away from crime.”
The NIDCOM boss also praised the efforts of the Nigerian Charge D’Affaires in Indonesia, Ms Patricia Alechenu, for her unwavering support.
In his remarks, Barr. Ogebe, thanked the commission’s boss for her prompt intervention in cases relating to Nigerians in Diaspora right from her days as a member of the House of Representatives.
He described her as ‘a morale booster’ for Nigerians in Diaspora and pledged to continue to work with the NIDCOM team.
