Crime News
“Grant Amnesty To Kidnappers In Nigeria” – Freed Lawyer Mike Ozekhome Appeals To FG
Ozekhome with family
Sept 12, 2013 – “Grant Amnesty To Kidnappers In Nigeria” – Freed Lawyer Mike Ozekhome Appeals To FG
Nigerian lawyer, Mike Ozekhome who was released from the kidnappers dens in the early hours of today after 3 weeks in captivity is now advocating for his abductors.
On Thursday, Chief Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria appeals to President Jonathan to grant amnesty to kidnappers in Nigeria.
He made the desperate plea today in a press briefing at his house in Lagos.
Ozekhome was kidnapped at gunpoint on Aug.23 at Ehor near Benin City in Edo. Ozekhome said his son, Ilugbeka, and a lawyer in his chambers, Mr Dominic Ezerioha, were also abducted by the same kidnappers on Sept. 6, while negotiating for his release.
According to him, the kidnappers eventually released him and 12 others about 7 a.m. on Thursday.The lawyer, however, said he was not aware if any ransom was paid to secure their freedom.He said the security situation in the country was a national calamity which demanded urgent attention. Ozekhome described his abductors as ”angry and desperate well-read graduates” who had a network of cells across the country. He said during his interactions with them, they told him that they were pushed into kidnapping due to unemployment and poverty.
The human rights lawyer said he fell sick twice during his three-week ordeal, adding that his abductors brought a doctor who treated him for malaria and typhoid. “As a matter of extreme urgency, I want the Federal Government to immediately grant amnesty to all kidnappers and institute an amnesty programme for all kidnappers.“
They told me that if they are given assurance that they will not be killed, they are ready to agree to the deal. ”He urged the government to declare a national state of emergency on youth unemployment and infrastructure decay.Ozekhome appealed to the government not to neglect the families of the four policemen who were killed while trying to rescue him from his abductors.
“It was this morning that I was briefed that those gallant officers died while trying to rescue us from our abductors. ”Let me hereby call upon the Federal Government to set up a special foundation to cater for the welfare of the wives and children of these officers.”
He also urged the National Assembly to allow for state police in the ongoing amendment of the 1999 Constitution. Ozekhome also called for the convocation of a national conference to address some of the problems bedevilling the country.“As Nigerians, we need to sit down and renegotiate our existence as a country.“We need to practice true federalism. We need to retool Nigeria.”Ozekhome said the government should also tackle the problem of corruption in the country.
The human rights activist, while thanking Nigerians for their concern during his ordeal, debunked insinuations that his abduction was politically motivated.
“We were never profiled or targeted. It could have happened to anybody,” Ozekhome said
Do you support amnesty for kidnappers in Nigeria?
Josiah Michael
September 12, 2013 at 10:14 PM
your captors have bewitched u there is no way the FG can encourage kidnapping in this country.
Truth Only
September 13, 2013 at 8:30 AM
My broda, u dey inside my mind?
The very thing i was about to write. I guess the boys did something to his brain during the ordeal.. Can u imagine? amnesty ko, leprosy ni
iron bar
September 13, 2013 at 12:42 AM
because u re involved.pple hv bn kidnapped for years now and govt turned a blind eye..this is wat u hear only when high profile pple are involved
red
September 13, 2013 at 2:40 AM
Wow.Is this a movie script?
joyce
September 13, 2013 at 5:35 AM
let naija create employment for the youth esp graduate plz its nt easy to return frm sch & remain jobless. lets naija fund be use in our country to create more company 4youth to work & enjoy being citizen of nigeria
Aji
September 13, 2013 at 5:47 AM
You never see yan yan How.I wish na the presido dem nak then we can hv solutions to youth problems.
Dave
September 13, 2013 at 8:54 AM
Sinz crime has bcom a celebrated livelihood in Naija, why nt, kidnnapers shud also b grantd amnesty. If Boko Haram was grantd it and their contapats in Niger Delta were also grantd then shud they b left out? Naija is totaly corrupt. Amnesty shud b xtended 2 armed robbers if it will bring a lastin solution 2 our youth restivenx.
Nwoye Igweagu
September 13, 2013 at 10:54 AM
The Judiciary is why corruption in growing uncontrollably in Nigeria. It is the lawyers and Judges that negotiate with corrupt people when they are arrested , and declare them INNOCENT . This is why people are no longer afriad to steal public money , because they know that the lawyers and judges are ever ready / willing partners who will also cooperate as soon as they are “settled” . Good that you are now involved. Talk toyour colleagues in the Bar and Bench!!!
Mobi
September 13, 2013 at 11:12 AM
Climax:wat is ur own contribution towards unemployment in naija hw many peaple is wrkn in ur chamber
D Hunter
September 13, 2013 at 12:46 PM
Don‘t mind him Mr. Iron bar. Just imagine dat eh? Kidnapper! 2 b granted Amnesty. Nigeria seems 2 b d only country whr evry group of evil pepetrators can b so bold 2 demand 4 amnesty. 1st it was d Niger delta militants, den d Boko harams, nw Kidnappers, who knws weda 2morw armed robbers will come up 2 demand 4 dias. Naija.
grace
September 14, 2013 at 3:43 PM
Chief Mike Ozekhome,
Thank God for your life. May the good Lord keep protecting you in Jesus name Amen.
Denkovie
September 15, 2013 at 10:12 PM
I dey laugh o. If amnesty is granted 2 unlawful citizens of a country wht should b given 2 d law abiding ones? Which of d schools did ds guy attended 2 b called a lawyer? What should be granted to the nigerian citizens who graduated from school 5-15yr ago without jobs. If ppo dont hav wht to say, y not lie down n hav dia eyes closed? Must everyone talk in a society just to b noticed? Im blaming d media who gave ds man d time to say ds rubbish.
osama
September 20, 2013 at 10:00 AM
kidnappas abeg even if una wan kidnapp person make ee be the president abeg pls try for nigeria kidnapp mr prezidoh