Nigeria’s foremost Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has called on the British government to show mercy and reduce the sentence of Ike Ekweremadu, the former Deputy Senate President currently serving jail time in the United Kingdom. Although Ohanaeze has acknowledged the trial court’s ruling that sentenced Ekweremadu to over ten years in prison for involvement in organ harvesting, the organization believes that a reduction in his sentence would be the best course of action.
In a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Dr Richard Montgomery, at Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s National Secretariat in Enugu, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma explained the context of Ekweremadu’s conviction. He emphasized that the former senator was driven to engage in the unfortunate incident due to his desire to save his daughter. Chukwuma testified for Ekweremadu during the trial and has expressed his concerns regarding the length of the jail term.
Chukwuma stated, “We’re using the opportunity of your visit to ask for leniency for him so that he doesn’t spend an extended period of time in jail. As Ohanaeze Ndigbo, we have accepted the judgment, but we believe that if there’s any possibility of reducing the sentence, it should be explored. Ekweremadu is a prominent figure from this region, and it is our duty to advocate for him.”
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, also addressed the British High Commissioner during the meeting. He appealed for the establishment of a British Visa office in the southeast region, pointing out that over sixty percent of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom come from this zone. Currently, individuals have to travel to Abuja or Lagos to obtain their visas, which Iwuanyanwu believes is unfair.
Iwuanyanwu emphasized the need for bilateral collaboration between the British government and the southeast region to drive economic growth and development. He highlighted the issue of insecurity, which has resulted in the recent “Monday sit-at-home” protests that have a detrimental impact on the region’s economy. The President General assured the British High Commissioner that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is actively working to address this challenge.
Furthermore, Iwuanyanwu announced that Ohanaeze Ndigbo intends to establish a business council comprising influential businessmen. Through this initiative, the organization aims to promote economic engagement and reduce social malaise among the region’s youth. Iwuanyanwu expressed his desire to collaborate with the British High Commissioner’s office to achieve mutual economic benefits.
During his visit to the southeast, the British High Commissioner, Montgomery, expressed his delight at the opportunity to engage with the Igbo people and explore avenues for mutual collaboration. He reaffirmed the British government’s commitment to advocating for peace in Nigeria and commended the Igbo community for their contributions to the development and progress of the country.
The plea for leniency for Ike Ekweremadu and the call for increased collaboration between the British government and the southeast region demonstrate Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s dedication to justice and economic prosperity. As this plea gains traction, it remains to be seen how the British government will respond to the appeal.
