Ekweremadu: Immigration speaks on donor’s age as Ebonyi govt backs senator

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Mr Idris Jere, has said the NIS followed due process in issuing a Nigerian passport to David Ukpo Nwamini, who was allegedly trafficked to the United Kingdom for organ harvesting by former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka.

Jere said Nwamini is 21 years old, saying the passport was issued to him in Abuja.

He made this known while addressing a press conference on Sunday.

A trending picture of Nwamini’s passport with number B00569974 had shown that he was born on October 12, 2000, which means that he is 21 years old.

This is however contrary to the report that Nwamini is 15 years old.

The passport was issued in Abuja in November 2021 and would expire on November 4, 2026.

Speaking on the controversy surrounding the passport, Jere said: “The fact of the matter concerning the case above, therefore, are that Mr David Ukpo Nwamini applied and paid for the e-passport using the NIS portal after which he approached the passport office in Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, on November 2, 2021 for his interview.

“To support his application, Mr Nwamini presented all necessary documents required including his birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission, showing October 12, 2000 as his date of birth; his National Identification Number, issued by NIMC corroborating the date of birth; a Certificate of Origin issued by Ebonyi State Government Liaison office in Abuja, and a guarantor’s form duly signed.

“NIS relies on documentation supplied by other agencies and we are not under any obligation to go to those agencies to verify those documents. What we do is that we look at the documents and applicants physically. Once that is done, we go ahead to process,” the NIS Comptroller-General stated.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Government says it is reaching out to the family of Nwamini contacted by Ekweremmadu to donate his kidney to the senator’s ailing daughter in United Kingdom.

The state Commissoner for Information and Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday.

Orji stated: “Ukpo’s information to the metropolitan authority of the United Kingdom orchestrated the criminal charge incidented against Ekweremmadu and his wife.

“The state government is following the turn of events and twists which followed the medical intention of the former Deputy Senate President, over the health condition of his daughter, Sonia.

“These circumstances led to the detention of the senator and his wife in the United Kingdom (UK).

“We urge the UK government to act progressively and meticulously while critically looking at the intention of the detained family.

“The Ebonyi goverment urges that they be given the benefit of the doubt.

“We also enjoin the public especially those with shades of opinions and surge of anxieties, to remain calm.

“The goverment hopes to see light at the end of the tunnel.”

The commissioner reiterated that the state government stands with Ekweremadu at this trying moment, adding: “We hope that the truth and nothing but it shall guide the outcome of the matter.”

The Star