A Nigerian national identified as Emmanuel Ihejirika, who was sentenced to death by the Indonesian government for drug trafficking has been released after several years in jail.

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.

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.