By Linus Aleke
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has denied trending report that it is seeking Federal Government’s intervention on the organ harvest case involving former Deputy President of the Senate, and wife Senator Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, at a UK court.
The report that the Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, charged the federal government of Nigeria to mount diplomatic pressure on the United Kingdom government to transfer the trial of a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu , on alleged organ harvesting, to Nigeria, went viral.
Spokesman of the Ambassador George Obiozor-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr. Chiedozie Ogbannia, in a statement on Sunday, cited several cases in the past, which he noted were similar to Ekweremmadu’s current case, which the federal government waded in.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo according to him, insisted that the federal government should not abandon Senator Ekweremmadu, who represents Enugu West in the National Assembly.
While, faulting the assertions by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, that the federal government would not intervene in the Ekweremmadu’s case, Obiozor led Ohaneze described Malami’s stand as selective and biased.
Five suspected oil pipeline vandals arrested in Bayelsa
Recall that Ike was charged by the UK Metropolitan Police with conspiracy to facilitate the travel of another person for organ harvesting.
It was alleged that Ike, 60, and his wife, Beatrice, 55, brought the 21-year-old man from Nigeria to the UK.
Prosecutors claim they planned to have his kidney removed so it could be given to their daughter.
But in a statement signed by the factional Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro on Tuesday cautioned those he described as hypocrites and impostors, using the brand name of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization to advance their parochial interests
to desist from dragging the noble Igbo organization into the mud, as well as, using fraudulently, her name to coax the Federal Government into a sham mission without the authorization of IMEOBI Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Title rematch: My mindset is to outbox Usyk, says Anthony Joshua
According to the statement, “Our attention has been drawn to the fake news on the social media about the endeavors of the apex Igbo organization to coax the Federal Government to change her views, contrary to the earlier, positions of the Presidency that they would not interfere on the case of Sen.Ike Ekweremadu, who is standing trials over the organ harvest in the UK. Ohanaeze Ndigbo is on the same page with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, which is to remain neutral and not interfere. We only pray for Senator Ekweremadu to get a fair judgment in the ongoing investigation and trial in the UK”.
The statement concluded, “These clarifications became imminent based on the fact that attempts by fifth columnists and impostors who are personal aides and Associates of Senator Ekweremadu have been drafted to use the name of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to always cajole the Federal Government into a shady expedition filled with trickery. We are aware of millions of Nigerians in prisons abroad for various reasons. It will be inconceivable and absurd for Federal Government to intervene in Judiciary matters abroad which involve her citizens, and we believe that the wisest options for Ekweremadu like other Nigerians incarcerated abroad is to get good lawyers. In any case our fervent prayers are with him for a fair trial in the UK”.
