Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has announced the release of Emmanuel Ihejirika, a Nigerian who had been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking.
After several years of imprisonment, Ihejirika’s case was successfully challenged thanks to the pro bono efforts of Nigerian lawyer Emmanuel Isha Ogebe, based in Washington DC, EKO HOT BLOG reports.
In a recent meeting with Barrister Emmanuel Isha Ogebe in Washington DC, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa praised Mr. Ogebe for his dedication and selflessness in handling Ihejirika’s case.
Gabriel Odu, Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, NIDCOM, in a statement, quoted the NiDCOM boss as affirming that Mr Ogebe’s pro bono work was instrumental in securing Ihejirika’s release.
She recalled that several years ago, a Nigerian delegation led by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ojo Madueke, including Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, then a member of the House of Representatives, and former NDLEA Chairman, Mr. Ipinmosho, had visited Indonesian prisons to advocate for clemency for 21 Nigerians on death row for drug trafficking.
Tragically, four of those individuals, along with an Indonesian and a British citizen, were executed.
After Emmanuel Isha Ogebe approached Hon. Dabiri-Erewa for intervention, he offered his services pro bono for Ihejirika, whose case seemed to involve mistaken identity.
Ogebe took the case to the Supreme Court, leading to Ihejirika’s release in December.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa reiterated the severe penalties for drug trafficking in Indonesia and urged Nigerians to avoid involvement in illegal activities.
She expressed her gratitude to Barrister Emmanuel Isha Ogebe for his exceptional service and commended the Nigerian Charge d’Affaires in Indonesia, Ms. Patricia Alechenu, for her steadfast support throughout the process.
In response, Barrister Emmanuel Isha Ogebe thanked Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her consistent support for Nigerians in the Diaspora and praised her as a “morale booster” for the community.
He affirmed his commitment to continue collaborating with Hon. Dabiri-Erewa and the NIDCOM team.
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