The people of Ihe Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State have made a desperate appeal to Governor Peter Mbah to step in and save their kinsman, Ifeanyi Ekoh, from execution.
Ekoh, convicted in 2012 for the murder of a minor in Ebonyi State, now faces the death penalty, but his community insists he was wrongly accused. They are calling on Governor Mbah to liaise with his Ebonyi State counterpart, Francis Nwifuru, to halt the execution and push for a case review.
Engr. Anichukwu Chikezie Solomon, President General of the Federation of Ihe Autonomous Communities, spoke to journalists in Enugu on Thursday, asserting that Ekoh was not involved in the killing of seven-year-old Ukamaka Immaculata Ogboji. The gruesome murder, allegedly linked to ritual practices, led to multiple arrests, but only Ekoh and one other individual were sentenced to death.
“The truth must come to light. My nephew must not be sacrificed for a crime he did not commit. Governor Mbah must intervene to ensure justice is served,” Solomon pleaded.
The community claims that a politically influential third suspect was never charged, and they argue that Ekoh’s alibi proves he was not in Ebonyi State on the day of the crime.
In a bid to stop the execution, they have petitioned the Supreme Court and reached out to several authorities, including the Ebonyi State Governor, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The crisis has also taken another twist, with the alleged unlawful detention of human rights activist Kindness Jonah, who has been advocating for Ekoh’s release. The community accuses a powerful Ebonyi politician of orchestrating Jonah’s arrest, leaving him detained for nearly a month without trial.
As time runs out, the Ihe community remains resolute, insisting that an innocent man should not be executed. They urge Governor Mbah and other key stakeholders to take urgent action before it’s too late.
