Organ harvesting victim: Ekweremadu is powerful, I can’t return to Nigeria

The 21-year-old man who was trafficked to the United Kingdom to harvest his kidney by the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, says he is afraid to return to Nigeria.

The Star had reported that Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, were jailed on Friday, May 5, for conspiring to traffic the 21-year-old man to the UK to harvest his kidney.

Ekweremadu, 60, his 56-year-old wife, and 25-year-old sick daughter, Sonia, stood trial accused of a conspiracy to bring the man to Britain from Lagos for his organ.

At the sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment, while Obeta received a 10-year prison term.

However, in a victim’s personal statement, the 21-year-old Nigerian market trader, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court he used to “pray every day” to be given the opportunity to come to the UK to work or study.

READ ALSO: Ekweremadu jailed for 9 years, wife to spend 4 years in prison

According to BBC, he said to “make it happen” he agreed to medical tests in Lagos and meetings with doctors in London, believing they were required for his UK visa during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 21-year-old said he only realised what was planned when he met doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in London who began discussing a kidney transplant.

He told the court he would not had have agreed to it, adding: “My body is not for sale.”

The victim is now being helped by a charity in the UK, according to his lawyer in Nigeria.

The 21-year-old further said he “can’t think about going home to Nigeria” because “these people are extremely powerful and I worry for my safety”.

He also refused to apply for financial compensation from the Ekweremadu family, telling a detective he “did not need or want anything from the bad people”.

The Star