The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commended a Washington DC-based Nigerian lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Ogebe, for securing the release of a Nigerian man, Emmanuel Ihejirika, who had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Indonesia.
Ihejirika had spent several years in prison before his case was taken up pro bono by Ogebe.
At a meeting with Ogebe in Washington DC, Hon Dabiri-Erewa commended the Nigerian lawyer for his selflessness and kindness in taking up the case pro bono.
It is instructive to note that 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 Lanre 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.
But Ogebe later approached Dabiri-Erewa for her intervention and offered pro bono services for Ihejirika, whose case appeared to be one of mistaken identity and offered to follow the case through.
Incidentally, Ogebe succeeded in the matter as he took the case up to the Supreme Court while Ihejirika was finally let off the hook in December.
Speaking on the need for Nigerians to refrain from drug trafficking, Dabiri-Erewa re-emphasised that penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death, adding that Nigerians should stay away from crime.
She therefore, commended Ogebe for his selflessness and kindness for the pro bono services.
The NIDCOM Boss also praised the efforts of the Nigerian Charge D’Affaires in Indonesia, Ms Patricia Alechenu, for her unwavering support.
In his remarks, Ogebe thanked Dabiri-Erewa for her prompt intervention in cases relating to Nigerians in Diaspora right from her days as a member of the House of Representatives.
He described Dabiri-Erewa as “ a morale booster “ for Nigerians in Diaspora and pledged to continue to work with her and the NiDCOM team.
, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commended a Washington DC-based Nigerian lawyer){kind=link}