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Emmanuel Ihejirika, a Nigerian man previously sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has been released after spending several years behind bars. His release was announced by the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement issued on Friday through the organization’s spokesman, Gabriel Odu.
Ihejirika’s freedom came as a result of the determined efforts of Emmanuel Isha Ogebe, a Nigerian lawyer based in Washington D.C., who took up his case pro bono. Ogebe’s legal intervention played a pivotal role in securing Ihejirika’s exoneration.
Dabiri-Erewa praised the lawyer’s dedication following a meeting with him in Washington D.C., acknowledging his selflessness in handling the case. “He worked tirelessly to ensure justice was served, and his commitment is commendable,” she noted.
Years prior, a Nigerian delegation led by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ojo Madueke, and including then-House of Representatives member Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former NDLEA Chairman Mr. Ipinmosho, visited Indonesia to plead for clemency on behalf of 21 Nigerians sentenced to death for drug-related crimes. Despite their efforts, four of the convicts were executed alongside an Indonesian and a British citizen.
Ogebe later contacted Dabiri-Erewa regarding Ihejirika’s case, which he believed was a matter of mistaken identity. Taking the case to Indonesia’s Supreme Court, Ogebe successfully fought for Ihejirika’s release.
In her statement, Dabiri-Erewa also emphasized the gravity of drug trafficking in Indonesia, where the crime carries a mandatory death sentence, and urged Nigerians to steer clear of illegal activities. She further lauded Ogebe for his outstanding contribution and expressed gratitude to Ms. Patricia Alechenu, the Nigerian Charge D’Affaires in Indonesia, for her steadfast support throughout the case.
