Ohanaeze Pleads With British Envoy For Over Ekweremadu Conviction

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide met with the British government yesterday, Tuesday, to appeal for a lesser punishment for convicted former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

The socio-cultural group made the appeal when the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo received the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu.

The group affirmed the pronouncement of the trial court that gave a nine-year and eight months jail term for Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Dr Obinna Obeta in the matter of organ harvesting.

However, a leader from the group,  Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, said it will be of great joy to Ndigbos if Ekweremadu’s jail term is reduced.

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”.