The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has made moves to help former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
In doing this, the group appealed to the British government for leniency for Ekweremadu, who a UK court convicted.
The Igbo group made this known 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.
The plea was made by one of the leaders of the group, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma.
He said that Ndigbo would be happy should Ekweremadu’s jail term be reduced.
Chukwuma 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.
“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”.
I Pray that God facilitates their immediate and unconditional release, Amen.