Miss Chisom Celestine is the only surviving daughter of Pa Egbohuche Celestine , the recently- released 101 -year- old prisoner . She talks with
OGBONNA CASMIR about the agony she suffered while her father was behind bars for 19 years

How did you cope in the last 19 years that your father was in prison ?

I was 12 when my father was imprisoned. I survived with support from friends and those who knew about the case . They were the people who helped me all the years . My father was imprisoned at the Enugu Maximum Prison.

What was your reaction the day he was jailed alongside his son and a relative ?

It was sad news. It wasn ’ t easy for me then . If not for God , I would have been dead by now ; nobody to go to . There was no mother , uncle, brother or sister .

Did you ever think you would see your father alive again?

No , because there was nobody to seek help from on his behalf . I thought all hope was lost . I thank God Almighty who used a non – governmental organisation , Global Society for Anti Corruption , to put a smile on my face again after many years of not seeing my father .

How would you describe the efforts of the Global society for anti-corruption  in assisting to secure your father ’ s release?

I can say that it’ s wonderful . Their efforts were wonderful and I ’ m delighted in what they did . They really tried and what preoccupied my mind was how to pay them. I couldn ’ t have afforded it if they requested money , but they didn ’ t request a dime. I pray God to give them grace to continue fighting for people who don ’ t have anybody to fight for them . There are some people out there who are suffering the same way my people suffered all these years because they have nobody to advocate for them.

How did you react to the granting of pardon to some prisoners, including your father , by the past administration of ex -governor Rochas Okorocha?

On behalf of my family , I thank ex -governor Rochas Okorocha for the pardon granted my father . God will do for him what he cannot do for himself . To all that were released , I pray that the grace of God will keep them from putting their hands in anything that can tarnish their image again .

What offence was your father and others accused of ?

My people accused him of killing his cousin’ s brother, one Cyril Igbokwe . The said Igbokwe was trained and nurtured by my father and he lived with us up until he got money and built his own house .
Till date , my father and the entire family were yet to comprehend what happened . When my father and members of his family were taken to a police station at Akokwa till when they were transferred to the state police command , Owerri , my father and my brother were not allowed to make a statement .
It was based on an alleged confessional statement that my father and brother were convicted . My father was an ex- seminarian who wanted to be a Catholic priest but because he was an only son , he was not ordained Catholic priest . My brother was educated was not allowed to make statement on their own . They were charged for allegedly killing his cousin.

What do you intend to do to make your father enjoy the remaining years of his life?

The only thing I can do is to pray for more grace and more years for him . There is a part in the Bible where God told Samuel to tell Hezekiah that he would die , he pleaded to God and God added more 15 years to his life.
My father was the head of St . Jude Society in St . David Catholic Church , Owerri – Akokwa , where he served faithfully. He served as an usher from St . Banabas Church to Owerri – Akokwa to St . David Catholic Church during the time of Rev . Fr . Jude Agowa and Jude Ndugbu etc. During the regime of Gregory Ochiagha, my father served faithfully. I pray that God will look at his service to Him and give him more years to live .

What did the local church in his community do when the incident happened ?

The parish priest in the church was transferred immediately the incident happened . The new priest didn ’ t know anything about him . The conspiracy was too complicated . I was about 12 years when the incident happened as I earlier told you . My elder sister who was fighting against the unjust treatment meted out to our family was killed by the same people in 2005 .

Are you saying the church didn’ t do anything ?

Yes . The church didn ’ t do anything . The pressure was much from the people who conspired against us . They threatened to burn the house of anybody that helped us and many were afraid .

The case was heard in court and he was sentenced …?

My father is innocent . I can say that again and again . During the time of the first parish priest , he (priest ) was a vibrant charismatic priest . He conducted community deliverance and burning of shrines . My father helped him in the mission.
Immediately that priest was transferred, they struck at my father because they saw him as a threat . He doesn ’ t support evil , when anybody wants to cheat anybody ; my father won ’ t allow it. They said my father was against them since he didn ’ t support them; so , they planned all means to intimidate him .
I was surprised the day the lawyer my late sister engaged to defend my father called me and said they had been transferred to Enugu Maximum Prison after sentencing them to death.
I asked him what happened and he said we could appeal the judgement . I didn ’ t know where to start or who to go to . I said if God could not exonerate him , let them die in the prison. But if they were innocent , God would prove Himself by ensuring their release .

What is your plea for your only brother who is still in prison ?

My brother, Paul , is still in prison. I am appealing to the government of Imo State to also pardon my brother and release him to us . He is the only relative I have now . I can boast of his innocence too . I ’ m appealing to Governor Emeka Ihedioha to please help in releasing my brother. Members of my family have been wasted .

It was reported that your family house has been destroyed . Would you want to return to your community with you father ?

I don ’ t want to return to the community if not for my father . If it is about only me , I would look for another place.