The proprietor of Gregory University, Uturu, GUU Prof. Greg Ibe has wept over the jailing of the Nigerian Senator, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice in UK over body organ harvest and the impact their absence would create on youths dependent on them.
In a press statement, Prof. Ibe who was the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Guber candidate in the last general elections in Abia, 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, he enjoined all affected beneficiaries of Sen. 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” to the students.
Earlier before the sentencing, Prof. Ibe had pleaded with the UK government through the Chief Clerk, Central Criminal Court, Old Batley, London for leniency.
Prof. Ibe had passionately pleaded, “Ours is a Multi-discipinary Educational Institution established in Nigeria with the core mandate of producing God-fearing, ethically sound and highly skilled global leaders who shall be catalysts for technological and Socio-economic advancement,
“Having read about the current traveils of one of our benefactors, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu in your court, we are constrained to passionately appeal on his behalf for your discretional clemency.
“While not claiming ignorance of the gravity of the offence Senator Ekwaremady is standing trial for, we however fervently appeal that your Lordships consider the dire consequences of his (ravalls on several youths who possibly are truly dependent on him for survival and graciously tamper justice with mercy
“Our passionate plea is even made more cogent by the uncomfortable barrage of ceaseless pressure from our students, who Identify and empathize completely with Senator Ekweremadu’s daughter Sorva, over her unfortunate health challenge citing her falher’s benevolance to several youths they lend their voices to the cry for mercy.
“There is no doubt that your coveted Intervention will surely go a long way in assuaging the free nerves of members of our university community, while restoring hope to his benefactors who are almost despondent since commencement of this unfortunate tragedy.
A source close to the Prof. Ibe said that Prof. Ibe has been sad over the development.
