Organ harvesting: Reps write UK govt, plead for Ekweremadus

Organ harvesting: Reps write UK govt, plead for Ekweremadus

The House of Representatives has pleaded with the UK government and parliament to intervene in the case of organ harvesting against Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.

The House in a letter also asked the UK court handling the case to “temper justice and mercy” in the sentencing of the Ekweremadus.

They urged the Federal Government to take diplomatic steps to intervene in the matter.

They stated these in a resolution passed at the plenary session on Tuesday following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Toby Okechukwu, a lawmaker from Enugu State.

The lawmakers asked the clerk of the House to convey their resolutions in writing to the British embassy, the UK government and the parliament.

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Ekweremadu is expected to be sentenced on May 5 at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey.

According to Okechukwu, although ignorance is not an excuse, the court should take into consideration that Ekweremadu has not been convicted before and has been a responsible citizen of Nigeria.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said, “It behoves on any government to plead for clemency when their citizens are in such a situation.”

He said he had known Ekweremadu for years and that the lawmaker had been a patriotic citizen.

The speaker said it was a “terrible shock” when he heard the charges against Ekweremadu.

“For 24 years, Ekweremadu has served the country with vigour. He has used his office to champion democracy,” Gbajabiamla said.

He said the court should consider his “honourable living and distinguished service” in Nigeria, adding that he had learnt from his experience.

How it all stated

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Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in June 22 and charged for allegedly taking a 21-year-old man to the UK for organ harvesting.

The senator has been in custody since then, but his wife was granted bail in July 2022.

They were later found guilty of organ trafficking in March 2023.

Their daughter, Sonia, was however cleared of the charges.

The verdict was the first of its kind under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Under the Act, organ harvesting is punishable with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

During the trial, the couple apologised for claiming that the would-be kidney donor was a relative.

The prosecutor, Hugh Davies, told the court the Ekweremadus and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward”.

Organ harvesting: Reps write UK govt, plead for Ekweremadus