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Alleged organ trafficking: Ekweremadu, wife risk long jail term if convicted

Published

4 years ago

June 24, 2022

Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice

The Specialist Crime Team of the Metropolitan Police in London has arrested a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice.

They were arrested for alleged conspiracy to harvest the organs of a child, who is currently in protective custody.

If convicted, the couple may get a maximum of life sentence or 12 months imprisonment or a fine or both on summary conviction under the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The Act read, “A person guilty of an offence under Section 1 or 2 is liable (a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life; (b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine or both.”

A statement by the Metropolitan Police said, “A woman and a man were charged today (Thursday) with conspiring to arrange the travel of a child into the UK to harvest organs.

“The charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team.

“[A] Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

“[B] Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.”

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The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022, the force said.

The PUNCH gathered that the senator’s daughter needed an organ transplant.

A source said, “One of his children needs an organ transplant. Probably, the arrangement was not tidy in the face of British laws.”

Our correspondents learnt that Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested on Tuesday at the Heathrow Airport in London en route to Istanbul in Turkey.

They were arraigned before a UK Magistrate court on Thursday.

According to the court proceedings, as reported by Arise TV monitored by one of our correspondents, Ekweremadu and Beatrice appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

The station reported, “The alleged victim, in this case, is a homeless 15-year-old boy who was brought to the UK by Mr and Mrs Ekweremadu off the streets of Lagos, Nigeria.

“They are both charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with the aim of exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

“They conspired to bring a child from Nigeria, a 15-year-old boy to harvest his organ; the boy was promised a better life. The prosecutors told the court that the former Deputy Senate President procured a passport for the boy and claimed he was 21 years old but discovered that he was 15 years old.

“The court learnt that Ekweremadu’s daughter had been battling with kidney failure and has been on dialysis for a while and needed a kidney transplant. So, the boy was brought in to give one of his kidneys to the daughter.”

Reports said the doctor billed to perform the transplant suspended it after learning that the boy identified as Ukpo David, was a minor.

AriseTV further reported that the court heard, “The Royal Free (hospital) cancelled the procedure and returned the boy to the custody of the family who treated him badly and he had to run away and slept on the streets for two days.

“It was while sleeping on the streets that the boy went to the police who investigated the matter and arrested the Ekweremadus at the Heathrow Airport on their way to Istanbul, Turkey, to procure another organ because they were unable to harvest the boy’s organ.

“Ekweremadu was arrested with $20,000 in his possession which has been seized.”

The senator and his wife got legal representation and begged the court for bail, stating that their passports had been seized but the judge denied them bail and remanded them in custody till July 7, 2022.

However, a letter written to the British High Commission in Abuja in which the embattled senator sought a visa for Ukpo later surfaced on social media.

The letter dated December 28, 2021, titled, “Re: Medical visa application for Ukpo David,’ read, “I am writing in support of the visa application made by Mr Ukpo Nwamini David who is currently having medical investigations for a kidney donation to Ms Sonia Ekweremadu.

“David and Sonia will be at the Royal Free Hospital London, and I will be providing the necessary funding. I have enclosed a statement of my bank account. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require additional information.”

Meanwhile, the British High Commission told one of our correspondents that it was aware of the case.

The commission’s spokesman, Dean Hurlock, however, refused to confirm if the Mission received Ekweremadu’s letter.

Hurlock said, “We are aware that the Metropolitan Police in the UK have charged two people with conspiracy offences linked to allegations of organ harvesting. As this is a live UK police investigation, I am obliged to tell you to contact the Met office if you have any questions related to this.”

But the Met Police declined to comment on the case, stating that the case was in court.

The Senate’s spokesman, Senator Ajibola Basiru, and Ekweremadu’s media aide, Uche Anichukwu, were not available for comment.

Action sacrilegious -MASSOB

The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra described the arrest of the former deputy senate president for alleged child trafficking and organ harvesting as sacrilegious.

While applauding the development, the pro-Biafra group vowed to commit Ekweremadu and his wife to the ancestors for speedy trial and judgment to serve as a “deterrent to many of their likes who are in the business of organ harvesting,” which it said had increased the wanton killings in the South-East.

MASSOB stated this in a statement signed by its National Director of Information, Edeson Samuel.

PUNCH

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Arise News Yet to Confirm Reported Suspension of Rufai Oseni

Published

1 hour ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Rufai Oseni

Arise News Yet to Confirm Reported Suspension of Rufai Oseni

Reports circulating online suggest that Rufai Oseni, a prominent anchor with Arise News, has been suspended by the station, but the development remains unverified as of press time.

The claim, which began trending on social media platforms and was later amplified by various online posts, has not been officially confirmed by Arise News management or by Oseni himself.

As of now, there is no statement from Arise News, no internal memo made public, and no confirmation from credible mainstream media outlets regarding the alleged suspension.

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The lack of official confirmation means the story remains at the level of a developing report, with details still unclear, including the reason for the alleged suspension, its duration, or whether any disciplinary action has indeed been taken.

Rufai Oseni is one of Arise News’ most recognisable broadcasters, known for his hard-hitting interviews and political analysis programmes, which has contributed to the wide attention the report is currently generating online.

Media observers note that in situations like this, verification from official sources is necessary before the claim can be treated as confirmed news.

For now, the alleged suspension remains unconfirmed, and further updates are expected once Arise News or the broadcaster issues an official statement.

Arise News Yet to Confirm Reported Suspension of Rufai Oseni

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Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai in ICPC Corruption Case

Published

2 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai in ICPC Corruption Case

The Federal High Court has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, who is facing multiple corruption-related charges filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The ruling marks a major development in the high-profile trial, although full details of the bail conditions were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report. The court’s decision comes amid intensified legal proceedings involving several corruption allegations linked to his time in office.

El-Rufai’s bail was granted shortly after he appeared before a Kaduna State High Court under heavy security for a related proceeding concerning a separate bail application in another ICPC-linked case. The back-to-back court appearances reflect the complexity and multi-layered nature of the cases against the former governor.

Court proceedings were reportedly conducted under tight security, with journalists initially restricted from accessing the courtroom, further heightening public interest in the matter.

During earlier sittings, the prosecution was said to have amended the charge sheet, restructuring the case from an initial joint trial involving El-Rufai and a co-defendant, Amadu Sule, to a sole-defendant arrangement after Sule was dropped from the case.

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The defence counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ubong Akpan, reportedly expressed surprise over the amended charges, stating that the new documents were served in court without prior notice, which contributed to delays in the proceedings.

The case was subsequently adjourned to April 14, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, which has now resulted in the Federal High Court granting bail.

The ICPC alleges that the former governor was involved in several financial infractions during his tenure, including the alleged release of about ₦11 billion to an unregistered entity for a light rail project that was never executed.

He is also accused of approving and receiving approximately ₦289.8 million as severance allowance beyond legally permitted limits, alongside allegations of financial misconduct involving a World Bank-linked loan reportedly valued at over $1.08 million.

Other allegations include the controversial award of a ₦4.6 billion CCTV surveillance contract in Kaduna State allegedly in violation of procurement laws, as well as claims of conspiracy to obstruct or influence federal investigators.

In a separate case before the Federal High Court, El-Rufai is also facing additional charges bordering on money laundering, conversion, and alleged unlawful possession of public assets.

He has consistently denied all allegations, insisting that his administration followed due process in all financial and contractual decisions.

The ICPC has not yet issued an updated statement following the bail ruling, while further proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks as the court determines the substantive issues in the case.

The development adds to growing national attention on anti-corruption enforcement and the prosecution of high-profile political figures in Nigeria, particularly amid renewed debates over governance accountability and public financial management.

Court Grants Bail to El-Rufai in ICPC Corruption Case

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Bauchi Governor Presents Over 114 Vehicles to Emirs, District Heads

Published

2 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Trends Admin

Bauchi Governor Presents Over 114 Vehicles to Emirs, District Heads

Governor Bala Mohammed has presented more than 114 official vehicles to newly appointed emirs and district heads across Bauchi State, in a move aimed at strengthening traditional institutions in Nigeria and improving grassroots governance.

The presentation took place on Monday, April 13, 2026, and was officially announced by the governor via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. He described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to deepen community engagement, enhance local administration, and promote closer collaboration between government and traditional rulers.

According to the governor, the distribution of vehicles is designed to support traditional leaders in performing their duties more effectively, particularly in areas of peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and community mobilisation.

He stated that his administration remains committed to ensuring that both existing and newly created emirates, chiefdoms, and districts are adequately supported to make governance more inclusive and responsive at the grassroots level.

Bauchi Governor Presents Over 114 Vehicles to Emirs, District Heads

The governor also emphasized the importance of peace and stability in Bauchi State, urging traditional rulers to remain non-partisan and uphold the highest standards of integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

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He noted that traditional institutions remain critical partners in maintaining security and promoting development across communities, adding that their role in mobilising citizens cannot be overstated.

The Bauchi State Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, led by Commissioner Isa Babayo Tilde, also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to working closely with traditional rulers, describing them as essential stakeholders in maintaining order and ensuring effective governance.

The Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, who spoke on behalf of other traditional leaders, expressed appreciation to the state government and assured that the vehicles would be used responsibly for official duties and the benefit of the people.

The fleet of vehicles reportedly includes 14 GMC saloon cars, Toyota buses, Toyota Hilux vans, and over 100 Toyota Camry cars allocated to district heads across the state.

Governor Mohammed, who was first elected in 2019 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and re-elected in 2023, has continued to pursue reforms aimed at strengthening local governance structures. His tenure is expected to end in 2027.

This is not the first time the administration has supported traditional institutions. In April 2022, the Bauchi State Government also distributed vehicles to district heads and local government chairpersons as part of similar empowerment initiatives.

While supporters describe the latest gesture as a boost to governance efficiency, critics often raise concerns about public spending priorities amid economic challenges in the country.