Emmanuel Ihejirika, a Nigerian who had been sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has been freed after spending years in prison due to a case of mistaken identity.
According to a statement released by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on Friday, Ihejirika’s release was secured through the pro bono efforts of Nigerian lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe, based in Washington D.C. The statement, signed by Gabriel Odu of NiDCOM’s Public Relations Unit, highlighted Ogebe’s pivotal role in pursuing the case all the way to the Indonesian Supreme Court.
The case first gained international attention several years ago when a Nigerian delegation, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ojo Madueke and NiDCOM chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa (then a member of the House of Representatives), visited Indonesian prisons to plead for clemency for Nigerians on death row. At the time, four Nigerians, along with an Indonesian and a British citizen, were executed.
Believing Ihejirika’s conviction to be a case of mistaken identity, Ogebe took on the legal battle and eventually succeeded. His persistent efforts led to the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Ihejirika’s death sentence, resulting in his long-awaited release.
The statement also acknowledged the support of Nigerian Charge d’Affaires in Indonesia, Patricia Alechenu, whose assistance further contributed to the successful outcome.
