The Case Of Ibinabo Fiberesima Is An Urgent Call For Action - DPA

I stumbled upon this post below on facebook, from a group named The Due Process Advocates (DPA). 

Find it after the jump...

MORE: Appeal Court Sends Star Actress Ibinabo Fiberesima To Jail As She Weeps In Court


Ibinabo's name above is highlighted by a hyperlink, showing that she is a member of DPA. She has been a member since inception.

Two days ago, a Nigerian court in Lagos affirmed a sentence of 5 years imprisonment against her for the wrongful death that resulted from an accident in which she was involved as a driver.

You will find the details of the story, in various versions, if you search. So, I will not repeat those details here. To summarize the facts of the case, Ibinabo lost control of her vehicle on the Lekki High Way ten years ago. Her vehicle impacted an on-coming vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle died while Ibinabo survived but with massive injuries.

As luck would have it against Ibinabo, the other driver was a medical doctor with Lagos State Government and from an influential family in Lagos. Yes, it was a terrible loss for the doctor's family. He probably left behind a wife, children and parents. My heart went for them. But it was an accident. It was a terrible tragic accident. Accident is called accident, because it is not something anybody plans. And it all happened 10 years ago.
Since the incident, Ibinabo has been tormented by the pains of that doctor's death. She has done everything humanly possible to reach out to the family of the doctor to seek ways to show them she would go to any extent to share in their loss and pain. Unfortunately, that family remained angry and and too pained. They refused to accept Ibinabo's efforts and the efforts of her friends and family. Thus, that accidental event stayed on the track of criminal indictment and prosecution.

Ibinabo is not a person I need to introduce to any of you. But permit me to say she is vivacious and remarkable in every positive sense of the word. Above all, she is a member of DPA, which means that we cannot leave her alone at this moment.

Ibinabo Fiberesima was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment

I will tell you this little silly story about Ibinabo and me, just to cheer you up in a moment of sadness. (Even Ibinabo does not know the details of this story). On March 1, 2016, I had gone to the Lagos High Court to represent a client. The case did not go forward and on my way out of the court premises, I stood briefly on the walkway to chat with my client and her sons. As we chatted, I noted a very beautiful woman coming from the other end of the courtyard. I hushed my client and asked one of her sons, who was backing Ibinabo. I said to him: "Young man, since you are not married, I think I have found you a wife". They all got animated: they know me for my jokes. I tilted my head in the direction of the lady approaching and said: "That beautiful lady could be your wife". They all quickly looked at Ibinabo and smiled excitedly. But just as we were to return to our discussion, the lady got the point where we stood and it was Ibinabo. She immediately recognized me just from Facebook. She stopped and we warmly greeted with a hug and pleasantries. When she left, I turned to the young man and said: "You have no chance, so perish the thought". That was Ibinabo. I did not know about the details of her legal challenges only two weeks ago.

NOW, what shall DPA do for our member? Or shall we fold our arms and allow one of us to go down alone? Never! I challenge all of you to start thinking and start thinking very fast. We shall not allow Ibinabo to stand alone. Our members our best assets. We shall come out in full force to support Ibinabo. I will be immediately directing efforts to ascertain the exact legal situation. I will give her my total support toward further appealing against her conviction and sentence.

We must help one another. That is the basic goal of DPA.