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Indonesia frees Nigerian sentenced to death for drug trafficking

Published

2 weeks ago

September 13, 2024

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Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), says Indonesia has freed a Nigerian who had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking.

In a statement issued on Friday, Dabiri-Erewa identified the Nigerian as Emmanuel Ihejirika, who had spent several years in prison.

Dabiri-Erewa said Ihejirika regained his freedom after his case was taken up pro-bono by Emmanuel Isha Ogebe, a Nigerian lawyer based in Washington, DC.

The NIDCOM boss said the lawyer took the case up to the Indonesian supreme court, which granted Ihejirika freedom.

“Several years back, a delegation from Nigeria, headed by the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Ojo Madueke, which included Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, then a member of the House of Representatives, and former Chairman NDLEA, Mr. Ipinmosho, among others, had visited an Indonesian prison to plead for clemency for 21 Nigerians on death row convicted for drug trafficking. Four of them have been executed along with an Indonesian and British citizen,” the statement reads.

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“A Nigerian lawyer, Mr. Emmanuel Isha Ogebe, based in the USA, had later approached Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa for her intervention and offered pro bono services for Ihejirika, whose case appeared to be one of mistaken identity, and offered to follow the case through.

“He succeeded, as he took the case up to the Supreme Court, and Ihejirika was finally let off the hook in December.”

She stressed that the penalty for drug trafficking in Indonesia is death and urged Nigerians to stay away from crime.

She also commended the lawyer for his selflessness and kindness for the pro bono services, and Patricia Alechenu, the Nigerian Charge D’Affaires in Indonesia, for her “unwavering support.”

Related Topics:ABIKE DABIRI-EREWA INDONESIA NIDCOM NIGERIAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR DRUG

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Tinubu’s planned cabinet reshuffle won’t make any difference, says Buba Galadima

Published

1 hour ago

September 28, 2024

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Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says President Bola Tinubu‘s planned cabinet reshuffle would not make any difference.

On September 25, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu “has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet and he will do it”.

Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels TV on Friday, Galadima said reshuffling the cabinet would not curb food inflation.

Galadima claimed that the president intends to reward his cronies with the reshuffle.

“That (planned cabinet reshuffle) has nothing to do with me or any Nigerian. What is of importance to all of us is bringing down the harsh conditions of living and the buck stops only on the table of one man. That is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Galadima said.

“No amount of reshuffling can make a difference. As far as that team is only ‘job for the boys,’ nothing will come out of it.

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“Anybody that calls himself president or governor is responsible for their cabinet’s performance. He should be told that some of his appointees are more interested in their pockets than service delivery.

“I expected him to do better than this; and to hit the ground running.”

The NNPP chieftain asked Tinubu to find a solution to the country’s foreign exchange crisis “which has seen the naira performing abysmally”.

There have been growing calls from Nigerians and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Tinubu to reshuffle his cabinet and remove underperforming ministers.

Tinubu’s policies have driven petrol prices to record highs and depreciated the naira to record lows since he assumed the reins on May 29, 2023.

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Israel claims Hezbollah leader killed in Beirut strike

Published

2 hours ago

September 28, 2024

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The Israeli military announced early Saturday that Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a strike on Beirut.

“Hassan Nasrallah is dead,” military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani announced on X. Military spokesman Captain David Avraham also confirmed to AFP that the Hezbollah chief had been “eliminated” following strikes Friday on the Lebanese capital.