How Ihejirika’s death sentence was overturned in Indonesia – Lawyer

The United States-based foremost Nigerian international lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has revealed that the process of freeing a compatriot, Emmanuel Ihejirika, on death row for drug charges in Indonesia began in 2019.

Ogebe said Ihejirika approached him when he visited Indonesia five years ago to contact the Nigerian Embassy on his behalf and other Nigerian prisoners in a desperate situation at the time.

The lawyer made this known in a statement made available to our correspondent on Monday in reaction to the goodwill messages from Nigerians at home and abroad for his recent legal feat.

Recall that Nigerians received the news of Ihejirika’s freedom from the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, on Saturday.

Reacting to the message in the statement for the first time, Ogebe said the Nigerian was “erroneously” sentenced by the Indonesian Supreme Court “as Emmanuel Ihejirika after 20 years imprisoned in Indonesia.”

He stated that he took the case up following his visit to the Asian country in 2019 adding that there were other Nigerian prisoners in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, even as he called on the Federal Government to send a diplomatic delegate to negotiate their freedom at the time.

Ogebe, who also disclosed that it had been 27 years since he escaped the brutal junta of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to the US, said the experience turned into a blessing for him.

“Today marks 27 years since I arrived in exile in the U.S. during a marathon escape from the murderous Gen. Abacha regime and thus became part of the Diaspora on the longest day of my life – 31 hours,” he said.

“That singular event enabled me to become Nigeria’s foremost human rights lawyer in the Diaspora leading to the eventual unprecedented overturning of “Ihejirika’s” death sentence by the Indonesian Supreme Court on drug charges, the relocation of over 25 at-risk Nigerians to the U.S. and millions of dollars in aid to Africa over the last 24 years – including N600m to Plateau State last year.

“I return all glory to God for the fulfilment of Genesis 50:20 in my life: ‘What the enemy meant for evil, God turned around for good for the saving of many lives.’ This is my life verse.

“Accordingly, I have written to the NIDCOM CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, providing a list of other Nigerian citizens we found in an Indonesian prison during client visitation.”

He, however, stated that Ihejirika became a prisoner in Indonesia after “he was unfortunately trafficked by drug cartels on a fake passport” while his asylum appeal had not been granted by the United Nations.

The activist lawyer also said his client’s singular asylum application was critical in establishing his true identity and alibi as well as the fact that he was not a serial drug trafficker as alleged.

He, then, added, “While we work on his recovery and rehabilitation, we ask for the privacy of the media for him at this time.”

According to the international constitutional lawyer, a letter was written to Dabiri-Erewa about other Nigerians languishing in the Indonesian prison system.

He said, “This list is old and was compiled by one of our Australian caregiver volunteers who visited them. Apart from my client number one on the list who I repatriated home on Christmas Eve from Jarkarta, I am unaware of the status of the others. I hope you can exercise your good offices to ascertain their status.

“Following our unprecedented victory at the Indonesian Supreme Court and recent developments in that country’s laws, I believe there is hope for the recovery of the lives of more of our misguided citizens in this tragic predicament,” the statement revealed.

“I would urge that a visitation delegation be conducted to Indonesia for this purpose as countries with high-level diplomatic engagements and on-the ground presence tend to achieve breakthroughs more so with a new government elected in Indonesia.”

Ogebe stated in the letter written to the NiDOCM boss, that, “There are 19 Nigerians in this prison and two are very sick. Now, prisoners are only allowed outside of their cell for five to 15 minutes a day confirming the information I sent you on February 15.”

“Your citizens entrusted me with the task of delivering their cry for help to you. When it comes to human lives, I am compelled to leave no stone unturned. I will be very grateful if your office could acknowledge receipt of my email and update me on the progress,” he added.