Don’t Be Too Hard On The Ekweremadus, SAN Pleads With Nigerians

Wahab Shittu, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has reached out to Nigerians.

He urged Nigerians not to be too hard on former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and wife, Beatrice.

Shittu also urged Nigerians to resist the temptation of being absolutely judgemental, knowing every human is fallible.

He made the  appeal in a statement issued on Sunday titled, “The travails of the Ekweremadus – who will cast the first stone?”

A United Kingdom (UK) court had sentenced Senator Ike Ekweremadu to 10 years in prison while his wife was sentenced to six years in prison for same offence.

The statement stated: “I have followed very closely proceedings in the Ekweremadus’ case leading to the conviction and sentencing of the couple yesterday in seemingly dramatic and harrowing circumstances.

“As officers in the temple of justice and others obsessed with the theory of justice, it is easy to conclude that justice has been served, but will that conclusion tell the entire story, particularly in the context of responsibility of parenting?

“I have read comments for and against the actions of the Ekweremadus – most of them largely negative and harsh on the Ekweremadus.

“However, we need to pause a little and raise some posers.

“In similar circumstances, how many of us will act differently when confronted with the plight of  our children?

“The Ekweremadus may have made an error of judgement, but who is free from such errors of judgement?

“I will plead that we should not be too hard on the Ekweremadus.

“We should also resist the temptation of being absolutely judgemental, knowing every human is fallible.

“And so as the couple are separated and taken to different prison cells yesterday, my heart bleeds at the truncation of an otherwise impressive political career, at love gone sour and at the separation of parents from their children and loved ones.

“It is a monumental tragedy that l will not wish for anyone in the peculiar circumstances of the Ekweremadus. So sad, So painful.

“And so as the body of jurisprudence may have rejoiced that justice has been served, the question remains, at what cost in the larger context of parenting?

“My heart goes out to the Ekweremadus as they rise to confront the verdict of destiny”, he stated.