Ike Ekweremadu
Ekweremadu appears before UK court on Thursday over organ harvesting charges
The former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu on Thursday appeared before Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court in London, facing charges under Britain’s Modern Slavery Act.
Ekweremadu’s case was fast-tracked. He was in good shape, wore a grey tracksuit, and spoke twice during his appearance to confirm his name and date of birth.
Last week, the London Metropolitan Police arrested and charged Ekweremadu and his wife for allegedly bringing a child to the United Kingdom for organ harvesting.
The UK police had said the alleged donor, later identified as Ukpo Nwamini David, was 15 years old, but his passport data page showed he was born on October 12, 2000.
According to Channels Television, during the proceedings on Thursday, Ekweremadu was in the dock where he confirmed his name and date of birth.
The prosecutor said bail cannot be applied to Ekweremadu, because he is a “powerful” man who is a flight risk while insisting that the “organ donor” in question is a 15-year-old boy.
The case was again adjourned to July 7 — and transferred to the Westminster Magistrate Court — to allow Suella Braverman, UK attorney-general, to determine whether the case can be tried in Nigeria or UK.
His wife Beatrice, who in her defence, asked the court to allow her to appear by his side because she has not seen him since the hearing last Thursday, was not granted such a request.
The prosecutor claims that David Ukpo, who alleged that he was coerced to donate his kidney to the Senator’s daughter, is 15 years. According to court, David was allegedly picked up off the street in Lagos by a criminal gang some months ago with the intention of organ harvesting.
Ekweremadu was remanded in custody as the court argued that he is an influential person, a flight risk and the case involves a child and modern slavery.
The case has been adjourned to July 7 at Westminster Magistrate Court to enable the UK Attorney General, Suella Braverman, to determine whether the case will be tried in the country or Nigeria.
On Wednesday, Ahmad Lawan, senate president, had said the senate will dispatch a delegation to the UK to see Ekweremadu and his wife.
“The high commission has done so much but we still expect that it will continue to provide consular service. And we have also mandated our committee on foreign affairs to engage with the British commission here in Nigeria to find more details on this case as far as the high delegation is involved,” Lawan had said.
“There will be a delegation to London to see the former deputy senate president. A delegation from the senate committee on foreign affairs will leave in the next two days to London for that purpose.”
