A Nigerian man, Emmanuel Ihejirika, who had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia has been freed, after several years in prison.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NIDCOM) disclosed this in a statement by a spokesman of the organization, Gabriel Odu, on Friday.
She said Ihejirika’s release was made possible after his case was taken up pro bono by a Nigerian lawyer based in Washington DC, Mr Emmanuel Isha Ogebe.
Speaking after a meeting with the lawyer in Washington DC, Dabiri-Erewa commended Mr Ogebe for his selflessness and kindness in taking up the case.
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.
Mr Ogebe, based in the USA, had later approached Hon Dabiri-Erewa for her intervention and offered a pro bono services for Ihejirika, whose case appeared to be one of mistaken identity, and offered to follow the case through.
He succeeded, as he took the case up to the Supreme Court, and Ihejirika was finally let off the hook.
Hon Dabiri-Erewa re-emphasised that penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death, adding that Nigerians should stay away from crime.
While commending Ogebe for his selflessness and kindness for the pro bono services, she also praised the efforts of the Nigerian Charge D’Affaires in Indonesia, Ms Patricia Alechenu for her unwavering support.
