Video shows UK judge's pre-sentencing comments on Nigerian lawmaker Ekweremadu, wife, and doctor

On a Friday, a court in the United Kingdom sentenced Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy

Senate President of Nigeria, to nine years and eight months in prison for organ harvesting. His wife, Beatrice, was handed a sentence of four years and six months, while their doctor, Obinna Obeta, received a sentence of ten years and had his medical license withdrawn.

 

According to reports by THE WHISTLER, the former deputy senate president was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police for organ harvesting and trafficking charges involving a young man named David Ukpo, whom he picked up from the streets of Lagos State. Both Ekweremadu and his wife had pleaded not guilty to the charges while Nigeria’s National Assembly had pleaded for clemency on their behalf.

 

However, Justice Jeremy Johnson held that the actions of the lawmaker were serious and amounted to a form of slavery because he was wealthy and leveraged his wealth to arrange the travel of a young man who could not travel from Lagos to Abuja. He further stated that people-trafficking of human organs is a form of slavery that preys on poverty, misery, and desperation.

 

In his ruling, the judge described Ekweremadu, his wife, and the doctor as accomplices and condemned the doctor for lying that the victim was the lawmaker’s daughter’s cousin. The judge stated that they each played a part in the despicable trade of human organs and that people-trafficking across international borders for the harvesting of human organs is a form of slavery.

 

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the principal public agency that conducts criminal prosecutions in England and Wales, reacted to the development, describing it as an horrific plot to exploit a vulnerable victim by trafficking him to the UK for the purpose of transplanting his kidney. The CPS further stated that the convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victim’s welfare, health, and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout.

 

The UK Met’s Modern Slavery and Exploitation Command described the judgement as a “landmark conviction” and commended the donor for his bravery in speaking against the lawmaker. The Command also thanked its partners for their tireless efforts in achieving the result and assured victims of modern slavery cases that they would be supported, signposted, and safeguarded.