DNA Test Helped Secure Release Of Nigerian On Indonesian Death Row – Lawyer
Emmanuel Ihejirika, a Nigerian who spent 20 years on death row in Indonesia, has been released after a DNA test played a crucial role in proving his true identity and securing his freedom. The United States-based Nigerian lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, who represented Ihejirika, revealed that the DNA evidence was pivotal in establishing his nationality, leading to his acquittal by Indonesia’s Supreme Court.
Ihejirika had been imprisoned for two decades after being arrested with a fake Sierra Leonean passport. He was initially sentenced to death, but a pro bono effort by Ogebe eventually led to a favorable ruling at Indonesia’s highest court.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, announced the release on Saturday, September 14, 2024, praising Ogebe’s legal efforts.
Speaking to journalists, Ogebe explained that proving Ihejirika’s true Nigerian nationality was challenging because the Nigerian Immigration Service did not have a retrieval database at the time of the arrest. To overcome this, Ogebe’s legal team used DNA testing to establish Ihejirika’s identity.
“We had to use DNA testing in Indonesia and with his family members in Ebonyi, Nigeria, to establish his relationship and prove his nationality,” Ogebe said. This evidence was crucial in overturning the conviction.
Ogebe also highlighted the broader issue of Nigerians being trafficked and imprisoned in foreign countries, stating that many others remain incarcerated in Asian nations, often under similar circumstances.
Ihejirika’s case highlights the challenges faced by Nigerians abroad, especially those caught in the crosshairs of drug cartels and immigration issues, and underscores the need for legal support and accurate identification mechanisms in such cases.
