‘Temper justice with mercy’: Obasanjo writes UK court, pleads for Ekweremadu

Mr and Mrs Ekweremadu

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey in London, the United Kingdom to temper justice with mercy on the prosecution of ex-Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, who were found guilty of organ trafficking.

The Central Criminal Court had, on March 23, 2023, found Ekweremadu, Beatrice, his daughter, Sonia, and their doctor, Obinna Obeta, guilty of organ trafficking.

The quartet were convicted for the offence, after a six-week trial at the court.

Ekweremadu, his wife, and Obeta were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a 21-year-old Lagos street trader, Ukpo, to London to exploit him for his kidney.

However, Obasanjo, in a letter addressed to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court, urged the Clerk to intervene and ensure the UK government tempered justice with mercy on the matter.

The former President, who said Ekweremadus’ action was unpleasant and condemnable, said the ex-Deputy Senate President and his wife have learned from the “distressing” experience.

He stated: “Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year-old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter.

“I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilised society.

“However, it is my fervent desire for very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general,” Obasanjo said.

The Star