The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has pleaded with the British government to have mercy on the jailed former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Ohanaeze made the appeal on Tuesday when it received the British Higher Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr Richard Montgomery, at the National Secretariat of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu.
The apex Igbo body stated that it accepted the pronouncement of the trial court that approved over 10 years in jail for the ex-lawmaker in the matter of organ harvesting against him, his wife and a medical doctor.
Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, who spoke on behalf of the Ohanaeze, said that 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 judgement.
“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”.
In his speech, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, appealed for the setting up of a British Visa office in the South-East region.
He stated that 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 visas.
Iwuanyanwu, who recalled the long relationship between Nigeria and British government, also appealed for bilateral collaboration to grow and develop the economy of the South-East region.
He identified insecurity that has now culminated to Monday’s sit-at-home as part of the challenge threatening the economy of the region, explaining that the new leadership of Ndigbo was working hard to overcome it.
Iwuanyanwu said that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo would soon set up a business council of prominent businessmen and assured that it would like to collaborate with the office of the commission for mutual economic benefits.
He said that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has placed a premium on education and agriculture to engage her teeming youths and reduce social malaise in the region.
Earlier, Montgomery, who said he was on a tour of the South-East, added that the visit would afford him the 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, stressing that it was delighted with the efforts by the Igbo in the development of Nigeria.
