The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has mandated the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom to give Senator Ike Ekweremadu, all the necessary assistance he needs following his arrest.
Gbajabiamila said that he has also directed that a Queen’s Counsel be assigned to him.
He said; “A criminal charge does not constitute a conviction or a conclusive proof of guilt. This is merely the beginning of a judicial process to substantiate the facts of the allegations and sustain the charges therein. Until that process is completed and even then, let us keep in mind that at the heart of this matter there are human beings and fellow citizens whose life has taken a turn none of us will ever wish for ourselves.
“I ask the Nigerian High Commission to avail Senator Ekweremadu and his family all necessary defense and support he’ll need to defend himself.”
The Speaker also said that despite Ekweremadu’s travail, he remained a respectable citizen of Nigeria.
In a motion of urgent National Public Importance, moved by Abudullahi Abdulkadir on the need for Nigeria to ensure that the investigation and case against Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom conforms to the rule of Law and respect for the rights of the individual enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
He said; “Hopeful that the authorities in the United Kingdom would work with their National Security and Intelligence counterpart in Nigeria, to conduct a holistic and thorough investigation to ascertain all facts relating to the allegations, to make a fair determination on the issues in the best interest of equity and justice for all concerned.”
Abdulkadir urged the Nigerian government to use all available tools to ensure that the investigation and outcome of the issue follows the European Convention of Human Rights to which the UK is a member.
He also informed the House to mandate the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the High Commission of Nigeria the United Kingdom to take all necessary steps to ensure that Ekwerwmadu and his family are provided with Consular services.
Abdulkadir also pointed out that all government agencies should be encouraged to provide all the information needed in the prosecution of the matter.
Similarly, Abdullahi Ningi, said that Senator Ike Ekweremadu, being a high ranking officer should have enjoyed privileges.
On his part, Toby Okechukwu, said that the Nigerian government needed to intervene in the Ekweremadu case.
Okechukwu said that the former Deputy Senate president, who holds a diplomatic passport should not have been allowed to suffer such humiliations.
He said that the matter has to do with freedom, rights and dignity of man, justice for all as well as fairness.
Another lawmaker Nkiruka Onyejeocha, called for caution by the court of public opinion.
The House ruled that “the parliament in the UK should ensure that Senator Ekweremadu gets a proper due process.”
Mercy Chukwudiebere
