Organ harvesting: Ekweremadu appears before UK court

A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Thursday, appeared before Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court in London, United Kingdom over alleged organ harvesting charges.

The prosecutor claimed that David Ukpo, who alleged that he was coerced to donate his kidney to Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia, is 15 years old.

The case was however adjourned to Thursday, July 7, 2022, to enable the UK Attorney General, Suella Braverman, to determine whether the case will be tried in the country or Nigeria.

According to Channels TV, Ekweremadu spoke twice during his appearance to confirm his name and date of birth.

The senator representing Enugu West senatorial district was remanded in custody as the court argued that he is an influential person, and a flight risk, noting the case involves a child and modern slavery.

The Star recalls that the Senate, on Wednesday, announced its readiness to send a delegation on a visit to Ekweremadu on his arrest in London for alleged organ harvesting.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, who made the disclosure at the resumption of plenary after a closed-door meeting, said the delegation, made up of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, would depart Nigeria for London on Friday, July 1.

“I had a personal engagement with Nigerian High Commissioner in Britain, who has done so well by presenting his team to be in the facility, where Ekweremadu is being detained.

“The high commissioner has been able to provide some consular services including the engagement of lawyers to defend Ekweremadu and his wife in court.

“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyemma has been engaged to extend diplomatic support to Ekweremadu and give attention to the issue at stake,” Lawan had said.

He, however, said the Senate would not go beyond its limits as the case was already in court.

The Senate President assured that the upper chamber would continue to engage with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigeria High Commissioner in London on the issue to ensure that the senator was given all necessary support.

The Star