Ekweremadu: Varsity Owner to Lead Influential Nigerians to UK to Commence Appeal ProcedureFollowing the jail sentences passed on Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice and physical, Obinna Obeta for Organ Harvesting of 21-year-old, the founder of Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, Professor Gregory One, has volunteered to lead influential Nigerians to the United Kingdom to push for immediate commencement of appeal proceedings in the sentence.
It would be recalled that on Friday, Senator Ekweremadu was given 10 years jail; his wife, Beatrice bagged 4 years while Dr. Obeta was jailed 10 years for conspiracy to harvest the organ of a young man to be transplanted to Ekweremadu’s daughter who is sufferings from kidney failure.
Against this backdrop, Prof. Ibe, who was also the governorship candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the March 18 gubernatorial poll in Abia state vowed to initiate a multi-dimensional intervention in order to deliver timely succour and relief to the jailed persons.
Ibe, also an industrialist, said he is compelled by the impending negative impact of jailing of the Ekweremadus by the UK Court on Nigerias’ image.
He stated this in a statement on Saturday, April 6, and sighted by News Express, to rally powerful Nigerians to appeal the sentencing, insisting that all hope is not lost.
In the statement titled: RE- SENTENCING OF SENATOR IKE EKWEREMADU, Ibe also urged those he described as beneficiaries of Senator Ekweremadu’s academic benevolence to keep hope alive.
He said, “I have read with reservations trending news of the unfortunate sentencing of Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Dr Obinna Obeta by a court in the United Kingdom on allegation of organ harvesting.
“It will be recalled that during the trial process our university joined other well- meaning Nigerians, including former President Obasanjo in appealing to the court and indeed the UK government for clemency on diplomatic and compassionate grounds.
“Now that it appears our several pleas didn’t secure the leniency of the UK judiciary, I am compelled by the impending negative impact of the sentence on our nation’s image and the unfortunate gloomy fate of countless youths who are beneficiaries of Senator Ekweremadu’s philanthropic benevolence to call for immediate commencement of legal appeal proceedings, in an effort to reverse the judgment.
“While acknowledging that the various intercessions from well meaning Nigerians do not confer any form of innocence on Senator Ekweremadu and his team, it is important to reassert the place of appeals to temper judgment with mercy in every temple of justice.
“Subsequently, I wish to enjoin all affected beneficiaries of Senator Ekweremadu’s academic benevolence, especially in Gregory University Uturu, to keep hope alive as I partner other public spirited individuals in commencing multi-dimensional intervention in order to deliver timely succor and relief”.