The Nigerian Embassy in Germany has said the attackers of the former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, will be prosecuted under German laws.
Diplomatic sources say under German laws, physical assaults are punishable by fines or imprisonments of up to 10 years.
Ekweremadu, who represents Enugu West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was beaten up by members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Nuremberg, Germany, on Saturday at an event organised under the auspices of “Ndigbo Germany”.
A press statement issued on Monday evening quoted the embassy of Nigeria in Berlin as saying that the threat level of the event had been classified as “minimal” by the German police, hence the absence of security personnel at the event.
Ekweremadu, a fifth term senator, was molested upon his arrival at the venue to give the keynote.
The statement by the Embassy reads, “The Embassy of Nigeria, Berlin, Germany wishes to react to viral videos of a vicious physical attack on the immediate past Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ike Ekweremadu, by some members an illegal and terrorist entity named Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Nuremberg on 17th August 2019.
“The attack happened at an event organised by Nigerians in Germany under the auspices of a socio-cultural organisation known as Ndigbo Germany, a registered entity in the Federal Republic of Germany. Invitations were extended to Nigerian dignitaries, including the Distinguished Senator and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Yusuf Maitama Tuggar. The Nigerian Ambassador also honoured the invitation but arrived at the venue shortly after the incident. The organisers reportedly requested for police protection to ensure public order during the event but were told that the threat level was minimal and did not require stationing of any personnel at the venue before the incident.
“The Embassy has requested a thorough investigation of this attack with a view to identifying the perpetrators and bringing them swiftly to justice in accordance with German law.
“This would deter future acts of violence against officials of the Nigerian Government on German soil, particularly against the backdrop of threats by the proscribed IPOB to carry out similar attacks on more Nigerian dignitaries, especially those from the South Eastern part of the country.”
