Recently, the African Democrat stumbled on a book ‘Stay Afloat in Righteousness’, written in prison by a death-row inmate. A search led to a contact between the author and www.africandemocrat.com, the author’s touching story is worthy of every time spent in producing the following excerpt:

Mr Augustine Ikechukwu Chukwuma has been in prison since 1997, that’s for 15 years running. The Imo State indigene was convicted on a trumped up charge of armed robbery by a vendetta-seeking personality in the judiciary at the time of the trial. Out of the 15 years in prison, Augustine spent 7 years on awaiting trial.

Mr Chukwuma informed www.africandemocrat.com that his ordeal started due to enmity between his family and the family of a former Imo Judge which stemmed from the inter village kingship war that was fought long before Chukwuma was born. The war was between Chukwuma’s family village and that of the Judge (name withheld). The same Judge was the complainant against Augustine (of course, she was a serving Judge in Imo State judiciary at the time the matter happened). That Judge was an adversary of Augustine’s family. Thus, the Judge did everything within her powers to send Augustine Ikechukwu Chukwuma who’s the only son of his father to an early grave. The said Judge in Imo State judiciary at the time (now late), apart from being the complainant against Augustine, wielded so much influence that she couldn't be ignored. Consequently, Augustine Ikechukwu Chukwuma was condemned to death. Since his conviction, he’s been on death-row.

 Augustine Ikechukwu Chukwuma has written 3 books from his death row cell; one of which ‘Stay Afloat in Righteousness’ has been published. Also he has other writing projects he’s working on, but restlessness and worry centring on his continued incarceration rob him of concentration.

Fortunately for Mr Chukwuma, the governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas A. Okorocha, after coming in contact with his book ‘Stay Afloat in Righteousness’ felt so touched by his story. The Governor heard the story of his trial and the gross miscarriage of justice that it was. He commissioned the judiciary to set up a panel to review the case and make recommendations. The Panel after the review recommended Chukwuma for pardon.  Consequently, the Governor has granted him pardon. Although the pardon has been signed, but 365 days later he’s still on the death-row, yet to be released.

Reacting to a question on the reason behind his continued stay in prison, Mr Chukwuma said in view of the fact that the state government considered him for pardon, he felt it wasn't necessary for him to continue the appeal process.
“The amnesty is supposed to be completed by now”, lamented Mr Chukwuma, “and the appeal may last forever while I continue to languish in prison.”

Furthermore, Chukwuma said “Yes it was Governor Rochas Okorocha who initiated it (the amnesty) and the State Chief Judge was the Chairman, with the State Attorney General a member.
As I'm writing you, the whole amnesty process has been completed, signed and sealed by the Governor but up till this moment, it has not been dispatched because the governor has not given the final executive order to dispatch it.
I'm not ashamed of answering a prisoner or an ex cc man as my prison experience is an advantage for me in my line of work. I want you to use your position and whatever connections you can muster to make our amiable governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha see the need to release me from this hell hole.
My State needs me, and so does Nigeria and the world. Gov. Rochas Okorocha has read this book, so have the Chief Judge and the Attorney General.  I'm not seeking for anything else other than my freedom as my journey to prison has been a journey of rediscovery and not entirely a waste.
As you can see, I'm ready to affect my generation in the most positive way.”

©Africandemocrat.com