Posted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the foremost Igbo sociocultural organization, has once more argued in favor of the arrested former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
The Igbo organization is pleading for mercy on behalf of the former congressman who was imprisoned on charges of organ trafficking.
He was found guilty along with his wife and Obinna Obeta, a doctor who practices in the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu at the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s reception for His Excellency, Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma said that Ndigbo would be pleased if Ekweremadu’s prison sentence were to be reduced.
We need to attract your attention to something really essential, he remarked. You are aware of the case involving Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy senate president from Nigeria who was found guilty and is currently detained in your nation. We all know that he is from this state and that he got involved in that awful situation in order to save his daughter.
He is currently incarcerated. It’s regrettable, but it did happen. During the trial, I provided testimony on his behalf, and the judge made two mentions of me in his ruling.
“However, we are taking advantage of your presence to request mercy for him so that he doesn’t serve the prescribed number of years in prison. Although we have accepted the verdict, we are asking if there is anything that can be done to shorten the sentence.
“He’s from here, and it wouldn’t be nice of us if we didn’t bring this up as Ohanaeze or from us here, concerning this prominent son of Igboland. We feel quite overpowered.
Earlier, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, made a plea for the establishment of a British Visa office in the southeast region.
He emphasized that it was unjust that they had to travel to Abuja and Lagos to obtain their visa, noting that the zone accounted for more than 60% of Nigerians who visit the United Kingdom.
Iwuanyanwu, who recalled the lengthy history between the governments of Nigeria and the United Kingdom, also urged for bilateral cooperation to expand and develop the southeast region’s economy.
He pointed out the dilemma affecting the region’s economy—insecurity that has now culminated in Monday sitting at home—and said the new Ndigbo leadership was working hard to address it.
Iwuanyanwu stated that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would soon establish a business council made up of notable businesspeople and expressed confidence that the organization would like to work with the office of the commission for the sake of both parties’ economic well-being.
He claimed that in order to keep her thronging youths engaged and lessen social unrest in the area, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has prioritized agriculture and education.
In his remarks, Montgomery mentioned that he was touring the southeast and that he would have the chance to speak with the British government about potential areas of cooperation during his stay.
He emphasized that the British government was pleased with the Igbo’s contributions to the development of Nigeria and that it will continue to work for peace in the nation.