By UZOMA ODUIGWE, Editorial Consultant

International Human Rights Lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has commended the courage of His Grace, Bishop Wilfred Anagbe, telling him that the “ongoing Benue Plateau massacres (in Nigeria) vindicate you.”

Barrister Ogebe’s encouraging words to Bishop Anabe were contained in a letter written by him from his base in Washington, USA, dated April 16, 2025 and titled, “Be of Good Cheer, Your Grace.”

According to Ogebe, “The courageous Bishop (Bishop Anabe) has been vindicated by the daily massacres this week in Benue and Plateau states. Ironically the Nigerian tyrant who attacked me recently relocated from his hometown due to insecurity.”

Continuing, he wrote: “I wish to commend you for courageously proclaiming liberty to those that are bound. You have been one of the candid voices against this genocide and you’re greatly appreciated. Indeed you were among the pantheon of humanity’s heroic humanitarians who prodded the conscience of mankind concerning these horrific atrocities.

“Please accept my commiseration for the vicious attacks on you even though what you said is the daylight truth.”

Calling from his own personal experiences, Ogebe said: “My personal experience is instructive as I had clear evidence that the Nigerian Embassy was in violation of both domestic US law and engaging in conduct incongruent with their diplomatic status under international law by witness intimidation and retaliation for my testifying in the US Congress about human rights abuses in Nigeria like you, as was pointed out last week by US Congressional Africa sub-Committee Chairman, Rep Chris Smith.

“The Nigerian Embassy in Washington at the highest levels authorized my punishment and silencing for/from speaking in “Congress,” specifically stating in a memo: ‘Mr. Ogebe derives pleasure from trash-talking Nigeria on social media, in the Chambers of the United States Congress and other public places across the United States’.”

Continuing, Ogebe said in the letter: “More worrisome, the Charge d’Affaires (Acting Ambassador) of Nigeria, Hakeem Balogun made the following chilling request: ‘Going forward, to prevent Mr. Ogebe, who is a Nigerian citizen, from making further derogatory comments that are inimical to the image of Nigeria, Government may consider taking punitive action against him, including withdrawal of his privilege to carry a Nigerian passport’.”

Quoting relevant US legal documents, Barrister Ogebe said such comments by the Acting Nigerian Ambassador and the Nigerian Embassy “is a criminal offense and in fact conduct incongruent with their diplomatic status.”

As an assurance of his support to the estranged Bishop, Ogebe said in the letter: “Should you find any threat to your person by the Nigerian government, please feel free to contact me, the US Embassy in Nigeria and the US Congress. The extra-territoriality of the offense means that even acts of retaliation against you in Nigeria fall under US jurisdiction.

“Even if they do not face earthly justice, divine justice will never elude them.

“The government minister Aisha Alhassan who thought she was god and attacked me for testifying in the US Congress is now no more.

“My Lord Bishop, please take heart. These Egyptians you see today, you will see no more! Neither do I see mine anymore. Indeed you have been fully vindicated in just one week. More than 100 innocent Christians were slain in Plateau since last week and killings have continued daily this week in Bassa Local Government of Plateau State on Monday, Otobi Benue state on Tuesday and Emici also Benue State reportedly today.”

“May the good Lord, guide, guard and protect you and may you not lose your reward for speaking out for the least of these,” Ogebe concluded.

•PHOTO: Bishop Anagbe (center) and international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe (R) at the U.S. Congress following his testimony before the Africa subcommittee on March 12, 2025

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