A Nigerian man, identified as Emmanuel Ihejirika, who was previously sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has been released after several years in prison.
His freedom was announced by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), in a statement delivered by the commission’s spokesperson, Gabriel Odu, on Friday, September 13.
Ihejirika’s release was achieved through the pro bono efforts of Emmanuel Isha Ogebe, a Nigerian lawyer based in Washington, D.C.
In 2016, Indonesia executed four convicted drug traffickers, including three Nigerians as it pushed ahead with its “war against drugs”, although another 10 scheduled executions were delayed.
As many as 14 people were originally set to face the firing squad together but officials decided a “comprehensive review” was needed to “avoid any mistake” in the 10 cases, Attorney General H. Muhammad Prasetyo said.
Those executed – three Nigerians and an Indonesian man – were shot during a thunderstorm shortly after midnight on Nusakambangan Island in Central Java.
The government ignored international calls for clemency and pushed ahead with its drive against narcotics.
“Our battle against drug crimes is not over and it will continue. We will maintain our commitment, our firmness and our consistency,” Prasetyo said
Years ago, a Nigerian delegation led by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ojo Madueke, along with Abike Dabiri-Erewa, then a member of the House of Representatives, and former Chairman of the NDLEA, Mr. Ipinmosho, had visited Indonesian prisons to plead for clemency for 21 Nigerians convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death.
Unfortunately, four of the convicts were executed, alongside Indonesian and British citizens.
Mr. Ogebe, who had approached Dabiri-Erewa for her intervention, believed that Ihejirika’s case involved mistaken identity and offered his pro bono legal services.
He pursued the case to Indonesia’s Supreme Court, ultimately securing Ihejirika’s release.
Dabiri-Erewa highlighted the severe penalties for drug trafficking in Indonesia, urging Nigerians to steer clear of crime.
She also praised the Nigerian Charge D’Affaires in Indonesia, Ms. Patricia Alechenu, for her steadfast support throughout the process.
