Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the main Igbo socio-cultural organization, has pleaded with the British government to release imprisoned former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
Ohanaeze appealed on Tuesday during a meeting with Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British Higher Commissioner to Nigeria, at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat in Enugu.
The supreme Igbo authority declared that it recognized the trial court’s decision to sentence the ex-lawmaker to more than ten years in prison for organ harvesting against him, his wife, and a medical doctor.
Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, speaking on behalf of the Ohanaeze, stated that Ndigbo would be pleased if Ekweremadu’s sentence was lowered.
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He said: “There is a very important issue that we have to bring to your attention. You’re aware of the case of Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who was convicted and is in jail in your country.
“He’s from this state and we all know the circumstance he got entangled in that unfortunate incident because he wanted to save his daughter
“He is already serving a jail term. It’s unfortunate, but it has happened. I testified for him during the trial, and in fact, the judge mentioned my name two times while delivering his judgment.
“But we’re using the opportunity of your visit to ask for leniency for him so that he doesn’t spend the number of years in jail. We have accepted the judgment, but are saying if there’s anything that could be done to reduce the jail term.
“He’s from this area and if we don’t bring this thing up as Ohanaeze or from us here, concerning this important son of Igboland, it wouldn’t be nice of us. We are quite overwhelmed”.
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, urged in his speech for the establishment of a British Visa office in the South-East region.
He stated that the zone accounts for more than 60% of Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom, emphasizing that it was unjust that they had to travel to Abuja and Lagos to obtain their visas.
Iwuanyanwu, who recalled Nigeria’s historic history with the British government, also urged for bilateral cooperation to strengthen and improve the South-East region’s economy.
He cited insecurity, which has now resulted in Monday’s sit-in, as a challenge affecting the region’s economy, noting that Ndigbo’s new leadership was working hard to address it.
Iwuanyanwu stated that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would soon establish a business council of famous businesspeople and stated that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would like to engage with the commission’s office for mutual economic gains.
He stated that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has prioritized education and agriculture to engage the region’s teeming youngsters and minimize social malaise.
Earlier, Montgomery, who said he was on a tour of the South-East, said the visit would allow him to speak with the British government on areas of mutual collaboration.
He stated that the British government would continue to fight for peace in the country, emphasizing that it was pleased with the Igbo’s contributions to Nigeria’s growth.
