I Was Shedding Tears” — Nkem Owoh Recounts How He Lost His Brother During Buhari’s Regime

Veteran Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, has shared a deeply emotional account of the execution of his brother, Bartholomew Owoh, during the military administration of former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari in 1985.

According to Ireporter Online, the actor made the revelation in an old interview with Arise News TV, where he reflected on the close bond he shared with his late brother and the pain that followed his tragic death.

Bartholomew Owoh was among three young Nigerians executed by firing squad for drug-related offences that were not punishable by death at the time of their conviction. The development has long remained a painful memory for the actor, who described the moment as devastating.

Nkem Owoh recalled that he was working at Anambra Television when news of the execution reached him, adding that he was overwhelmed with grief and could not hold back tears. He also expressed concern over what he described as the retroactive application of the decree, which changed the legal consequences of the offence after it had been committed.

The veteran actor questioned the fairness of the decision, stressing that the offence was not originally a capital crime at the time it was committed. He described the experience as a deeply personal tragedy that has remained with him over the years.

Former military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, who was in power between 1983 and 1985, later served as Nigeria’s civilian president from 2015 to 2023. He passed away on July 13, 2025, in London at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness and was laid to rest in Daura, Katsina State, following Islamic rites and military honours.