Organ harvesting: Ekweremadu’s daughter pleaded not guilty, denies trafficking homeless man to UK – Newstrends
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Organ harvesting: Ekweremadu’s daughter pleaded not guilty, denies trafficking homeless man to UK

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Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and daughter, Sonia

Sonia, daughter of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has pleaded not guilty to the charge that she conspired with others to traffic a fellow Nigerian to London to harvest one of his kidneys.

The 25-year-old student is charged alongside her 60-year-old father, her mother Beatrice Ekweremadu, 56, and a doctor Obinna Obeta, 50.

Her plea was taken on Friday according to the London Mail.

The other accused persons had earlier denied the same charge.
The prosecution claims the accused conspired with others and another family member who is believed to be still in Nigeria, to arrange the travelling of 21 year-old Ukpo Nwamini David, with a view to exploiting him between August 1, 2021 and May 5, 2022.

The alleged conspirators arranged Ukpo’s travel from Lagos to London to remove one of his kidneys for Sonia, who has a kidney-related disease, the prosecution said.

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Father and mother were arrested after the young man lodged a complaint with the police in London that he was the victim of trafficking at Staines Police Station.

Ukpo claimed he arrived in the UK on February 20 this year and was taken to Royal Free Hospital for tests, none of which he consented to.

After the tests, he returned to the house he was staying in, where he was ‘treated effectively as a slave’.

He said he escaped the address and was homeless for three days before going to the police.

The trial is scheduled to commence at the Old Bailey on January 31 before High Court judge Mr. Justice Adam Johnson.

Ike and Obeta are in custody in HMP Wandsworth and HMP Belmarsh respectively, while Beatrice and Sonia are both on bail.

The couple was remanded last June following their arraignment before the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate Ukpo’s travel for organ harvesting.

The UK Metropolitan Police said in a statement that the arrest of the couple came on the heels of an investigation by its specialist crime team.

It said: “A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support. As criminal proceedings are now under way, we will not be providing further details.” The Nation

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Police nab fake inspector, recover stolen cars

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Rivers State Police Commissioner, Olatunji Dosu

Police nab fake inspector, recover stolen cars

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a fake Inspector who engages in armed robbery and car snatching, among other crimes. 

This was disclosed by the Rivers State Police Commissioner, Olatunji Dosu while parading the suspect among other suspected criminals on Wednesday.

According to the Dosu, Monday Igbali, the fake inspector, was a former sergeant who was dismissed after being charged in a kidnapping case in 2021.

He noted that three fancy cars were recovered from Igbali, who runs a gang of five criminals.

Dosu states, “The command commenced an investigation in response to a report filed on August 11, 2023, by one Fibika Kingsley that his Lexus EX330 had been stolen at gunpoint along Agip Road by five gunmen.’’

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“The investigations led to the arrest of one Monday Igbali, aged 43, a native of Okwuzi in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State.

“He is a former police sergeant who was dismissed after being indicted in a kidnapping case in 2021.

“Since his dismissal, he has continued to parade himself as a police officer, even claiming to be an Inspector of Police, a rank he did not attain before his dismissal.

“He works with a gang of five, with four gang members still at large.

“He has robbed a total of nine cars and sold them for between N1.3m and N2.5m each. He was arrested on March 8, 2024, at his home in Chokocho, Etche, after the police conducted due surveillance following investigations.

“We have recovered three cars from him: a Lexus 330, a Lexus IS250, and a Toyota Highlander.”

Police nab fake inspector, recover stolen cars

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Breaking: Military releases FirstNews editor, Segun Olatunji

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Breaking: Military releases FirstNews editor, Segun Olatunji

The military has finally released Segun Olatunji, editor of FirstNews, who has been in their custody since March 15.

Olatunji was released on Thursday to Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) General Secretary Iyobosa Uwugiaren and The Nation Deputy Editor Yomi Odunuga under a bridge in Asokoro, Abuja.

It was also learnt that the documents for his release were signed inside a security vehicle with heavily armed operatives.

The security agents were said to be masked and the number plates of their vehicles covered up.

The editor was abducted by armed men in his home in Iyana Odo, Abule Egba area of Lagos, on March 15.

His family members were kept in the dark on his whereabouts and why he was arrested.

Several groups, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors, almost daily mounted pressure on the government for Olatunji’s release.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute said the journalist was in the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

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BREAKING: Court orders military to release 313 suspected terrorists

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BREAKING: Court orders military to release 313 suspected terrorists

A Federal High Court in Borno State has ordered the release of at least 313 suspected terrorists detained by the military.

The court ordered their release due to a lack of evidence to charge the suspects after the investigation.

Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, the Director of Defence Media Operations, announced this during the operational briefing on Thursday in Abuja.

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He said, “The court ordered the release for want of evidence after the conclusion of investigation and other ancillary matters.

“Accordingly, they would be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action.”

BREAKING: Court orders military to release 313 suspected terrorists

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