Veteran Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, has opened up about one of the most painful moments of his life — the execution of his elder brother during Nigeria’s military era.
In a resurfaced interview, the actor shared how his brother, Bartholomew Owoh, was among three young Nigerians executed by firing squad in 1985 under the regime of Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the experience left a deep emotional scar that still lingers decades later.
He revealed that at the time of the incident, he was working with Anambra Television and was overwhelmed with grief when the news broke.
“I was shedding tears,” he recalled, describing how helpless he felt watching events unfold.
Nkem Owoh further explained that what made the situation even more painful was the controversial legal decision behind the execution.
He noted that the offence his brother was accused of was not punishable by death at the time it was committed, but a new decree was applied retroactively — effectively changing the rules after the fact.
Questioning the fairness of the process, he said the law was adjusted in a way that directly affected his brother and others involved.
“Why would it be shifted back to include people who didn’t commit the offence before the decree?” he asked.
The incident remains one of the most talked-about moments in Nigeria’s legal and political history, often cited in discussions around justice, military rule, and human rights.
His emotional account has since reignited conversations online, with many reflecting on the impact of past military policies on ordinary families.
