What Exactly Is Going On?’ — Godsent Raises Alarm Over Ekweremadu’s Alleged Return

Igbo socio-political leaders have expressed concern over the Federal Government’s request to repatriate former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from the United Kingdom, warning that the move could be politically motivated.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking with Sunday Punch, President of the Igbo National Council (INC), Chilos Godsent, questioned both the timing and purpose of the request, describing it as potentially “political manipulation” or a “vendetta disguised as compassion.”

Godsent expressed concern that the government has not clarified what awaits Ekweremadu upon his return.

“There is one thing that is really unclear: are they bringing him back to Nigeria to set him free, to put him on trial, or to continue his jail term? These things are not transparent,” he said.

He cautioned that Ekweremadu could be subjected to political retribution.

“People are sceptical that he may be retried as part of a political vendetta, which would be improper. Why now, during this election period? It seems they want to use him for political purposes,” Godsent added.

The INC president also criticised the Muhammadu Buhari administration, accusing it of abandoning Ekweremadu during his legal ordeal in the UK. He argued that the Nigerian government’s failure to intervene early allowed British authorities to prosecute “a sitting senator of the Federal Republic.”

While commending President Bola Tinubu’s initiative to bring Ekweremadu back, Godsent warned against using the senator’s return as a political bargaining tool and raised doubts about the independence of the Nigerian judiciary, suggesting Ekweremadu could still fall victim to political persecution.

ADF: ‘Why Ask for Ekweremadu and Ignore Nnamdi Kanu?’

Similarly, President of the Ala-Igbo Development Foundation (ADF), Prof. Awuzie Unachukwu, questioned the sincerity of the government’s move.

He stated, “If it is agreed that Senator Ekweremadu should return after serving his sentence, why is the same government reluctant to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who only sought self-determination for the Igbo people?”

Unachukwu argued that if Ekweremadu’s repatriation is genuinely non-political, the continued detention of Kanu must be addressed immediately. He suggested that the move might be aimed at mobilising influential Igbo figures ahead of the 2027 elections.

While appreciating President Tinubu’s steps toward Ekweremadu’s return, Unachukwu insisted that the senator must not be brought back only to face further punishment.

“He shouldn’t be brought back to Nigeria to serve a jail term. He has suffered enough for his crime. If he returns, it shouldn’t be for incarceration,” he said.