Ohanaeze Visits British High Commissioner, Pleads Leniency For Ekweremadu
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide on Tuesday urged the British government to show leniency to jailed former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
The politician, his wife and their “middleman” were jailed for an organ-trafficking plot, after bringing a man to the UK from Lagos.
Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife, Beatrice, 56, wanted a new kidney for their 25-year-old daughter, Sonia.
The pair and Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, were previously convicted of conspiring to exploit the man.
Ekweremadu, who was described by the judge as the “driving force throughout”, was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison.
Speaking 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, one of the leaders of the group, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, said Ndigbo would be happy should Ekweremadu’s jail term be 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.
“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, it should be done.”
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, called for the setting up of a British visa office in the Southeast.
He said the zone accounts for over 60 per cent of Nigerians travelling to the United Kingdom, stressing that it was unfair that they were subjected to travelling to Abuja and Lagos to procure their visa.
Iwuanyanwu, who recalled the long relationship between Nigeria and the British government, also appealed for bilateral collaboration to grow and develop the economy of the Southeast region.
He identified insecurity that has now culminated in Monday-sit-at-home as part of the challenges threatening the region’s economy, saying the new leadership of Ndigbo was working hard to overcome it.
Iwuanyanwu said Ohanaeze Ndigbo would soon set up a business council of prominent businessmen and assured that it would like to collaborate with the UK for mutual economic benefits.
He said Ohanaeze Ndigbo has placed a premium on education and agriculture to engage youths and reduce social malaise in the region.
Montgomery, who said he was on a tour of the Southeast, added that the visit would afford him an opportunity to interact on areas of mutual collaboration with the British government.
He said that the British government would continue to advocate for peace in the country, adding that it was delighted with the development efforts of the Igbo.
