I was rounding off a script when my phone rang. It was one of them anti-Ibinabo colleagues calling to mock me with vindictive joy on the recent developments concerning the accident she was involved in 2005, in which a promising doctor lost his life. It is no secret that Mrs. Ibinabo Egbuka is a close ally of mine and so it is easy for anyone to view whatever I say about her from a colored lens. In spite of that, I have decided to make my opinion known as I had interviewed her on this matter both on and off camera.

First, My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. I would never be able to quantify your loss. It must be hard but I pray that the Almighty fill the void in your hearts. More blessings to you all.

Now to the issues on ground. Ibinabo had an accident. The definition of the term has its primary anchor on happenstance. Something that was not pre-meditated and foreseen. Which means it could just as much have been the wife of Dr. Giwa Suraj in Ibinabo's shoes. The mother of five and step mother of three didn't set out to kill anybody, it just happened! For heaven's sake, she is a mother. It will be difficult for most people to imagine the torture that Ibinabo's soul has been through. That singular incident changed her completely.

When I interviewed Ibinabo on this issued a few years back. I remember having to stop filming severally because she couldn't wrap her mind around the pain she has caused that family. When she managed to gain composure, struggling through red eyes that were weary of crying and squeezing hard on the handkerchief in her hand she said " Stronghold, I just wish this didn't happen. I beg people to stop talking about this because everytime they do, they force the family to relive the experience. In trying to torture me, they also torture the family. I am a mother and i know the pains the widow of Dr.Giwa has to face because of me. I am willing to do anything possible to bring him back to life and that is what kills me because i can't. I am deeply sorry and I regret what happened. How do you think i feel when I think that some kids are growing up knowing I am the reason they don't have a father". These are not the words of someone that is not remorseful. I know because I looked in her eyes and saw a burdened soul with no chance of atonement.

Once I was in a gathering where someone asked Ibinabo for something but she refused to oblige. The person smiled and said "if na that time when you just get accident anything wen I ask, you go do because of fear". I turned and looked at the person because I felt that was improper. The lady looked at me and she responded " yes na, that time Ibinabo dey even fear herself, she no believe say she fit kill person for her life. Person wey dey fear common cockroach. That's why I dey laugh when paper dey write say she dey go party. If say you know IB that time eh..."

I have met several people that were inmates with IB when she was in the junk and you will be amazed at how highly they speak of her. IB was a mother as usual. I have interviewed several people who's cases had been abandoned that Ibinabo paid lawyers to take up their cases and today they are free and doing well in the society. There are scores of young women that were just raided on the streets and because their families could not locate them on time, they have been suffering in jail for no just reason that Ibinabo rescued. Several women in jail that were pregnant in the junk that Ibinabo made sure they delivered safely. I am securing the permission of these people to reveal their Identities and I'll leave my email so you can contact me for video clips of my interviews with them. [email protected]

As president of AGN, Ibinabo's welfare scheme, particularly for the elderly actors is still today the best the industry has seen. From her intervention to secure a 10million naira fund from Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan on the Chike Bryan's case to her intervention on veteran actor Osita Okeke's matter to Mr. Prince James Uche and the list goes on and on.

In my own opinion, Ibinabo has done everything humanly possible to atone for her mistake. The only people who are happy about her going to jail are those that are ignorant about the real issues or those who's hatred for her person is politically motivated. So, who says Ibinabo does not deserve to go to jail? Ekine Stronghold and common sense. Who says she doesn't deserve to go to jail? The scores of women who were unjustly jailed that she rescued. The many women that gave birth in jail that she helped believe so too. The number of people with a clean bill of health because she intervened believe so.

At worst Ibinabo should be given some form of community service not a jail term. I plead with the family of the deceased and the custodians of the law and every other perceived vested interest involved in this matter to be cautious and find a way to read meaning to the words forgiveness and mercy, bearing in mind that today it is Ibinabo tomorrow it could be Justice Deborah or anyone other person but I pray that providence will never allow evil come our way.

To Ibinabo, Remember in one of our discussions a long time ago. We both agreed that you were sent to jail as a sheep to be slaughtered by the wolves but somehow you found the strength to bring out the humanity in those ones that our society deemed condemned. Don't forget that discussion. I have not had the chance to speak with you since this development but in these times, I ask you to remember why I call you the rose that grew from a crack on the concrete. More blessings to you. To Ibinabo's family and friends, lets all be there for IB. To her detractors, i pity you. I pity all who politicize this matter for personal interest. Remember, there is no hiding place from the Father of creation. To the media, for the sake of the family of the deceased and all involved in the matter, please be considerate. Always remember people count on you for the truth. More blessings!

Ekine Stronghold
National PRO
Screen Writers' Guild of Nigeria