Ike Ekweremadu: May Our Children Bury, Not Kill Us By Prof. Mike Ozekhome (Opinion)

INTRODUCTION When I was growing up in the village in the 60s and 70s, my dear mother always told me, “You will bury me”. I could not then process the meaning. Why would my mother who was still alive, hale and hearty, tell me I will bury her? I can now understand. Indeed, I did bury her in a most befitting manner when she transited in 1997. May our children not kill us. May they bury us instead. Amen. Itsee. This is thus the usual prayer of parents. This has not quite worked out for the Ekweremadus. The genesis and revelation of their ordeal leading to their conviction and jail in faraway cold London arose wholly from their child’s kidney malfunction and their perseverance as parents to save her life. Sonia, the recurring decimal in their travails, puts it most eloquently when she moaned, “I feel guilty, I feel like all this has happened because of me”. She is right. Her health condition called Nephrotic syndrome, a condition where the kidney does not function properly, ignited the entire brouhaha. Sonia’s …

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Ekweremadu: How FG failed to save lawmaker – Ibegbu

Days after a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu was jailed in the United Kingdom, UK, the Federal Government of Nigeria has kept sealed lips. It also maintained the same stance all through the time the trial lasted. A public affairs commentator, Chuks Ibegbu, who was not comfortable with the scenario, said Ekweremadu’s case had exposed the Federal Government’s alleged double standard. Ibegbu said the Federal Government’s silence was an indication that once a personality from a section of the country has issues, such a person is left to their fate. It could be recalled that a London court had sentenced Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta to prison for organ harvesting. But, while Ekweremadu’s conviction has continued to draw sympathy from Nigerians, the Federal Government has been silent. Keen watchers say the Federal Government’s window to use diplomacy to resolve Ekweremadu’s case was lost when it failed to reach out to its UK counterpart within 24 hours after he was arrested for organ harvesting. “Allowing the case to go to court might indicate that the …

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Nigerian Govt is After Ekweremadu – Ohanaeze

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has accused the Nigerian Government of being unfair to former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who is being jailed in the United Kingdom, UK. Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia, accused the Federal Government of being after Ekweremadu. Ogbonnia wondered why the Federal Government would confiscate Ekwereamdu’s properties amid his travail in the UK. A UK court had sentenced Ekweremadu to nine nine years in prison for organ trafficking and harvesting plot. However, Ogbonnia accused the Federal Government of doing nothing to help Ekweremadu. A statement by Ogbonnia reads: “They did not treat him like someone who has served meritoriously in this country. “Rather, while he was facing the travails, the federal government came out with charges and allegations of corruption and seized his properties. “This is a man who has been around you, walked with you for years and when he needed your help, they were busy talking about auctioning his properties. “All those things indicated that it was not only the UK court that was after him, but the FG was also after him.”

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Ekweremadu: ”In Nigeria, that boy will be jailed” – Netizens react over sentencing

Some netizens have reacted to the sentencing of former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, to jail by the Old Bailey, London’s Central Criminal Court, on Friday. The court sentenced Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months, while his wife Beatrice and Obinna Obeta got four years and 10 years, respectively. The sentence became the first of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act, following their conviction for organ trafficking in March, which lasted for six weeks. Prior to the sentence, Ekweremadu, Beatrice, and Obeta were convicted of conspiracy to arrange the travel of a young Nigerian man identified as David Nwamini to Britain in order to exploit him for his kidney. The kidney organ was intended for Ekweremadu’s sick daughter, Sonia. Meanwhile, many Nigerians have continued to express their feelings following the sentencing of the Ekweremadus. Here are some of the reactions: @CnC Edozie wrote: “Uk used them to test the law for the first time. No one has been convicted for such crimes before in the UK, it …

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Why Court Vacated Forfeiture Order On Ekweremadu’s 40 Properties

By Ogechi Okorie Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has vacated an interim forfeiture of 40 landed properties granted against the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Precise Post gathered that Justice Ekwo gave the order following a discovery that the Forfeiture Order was fraudulently obtained by the Federal Government against the properties. While lifting the order, the Judge held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which obtained the order on behalf of the Federal Government concealed information that led to granting it. Specifically, Justice Ekwo said that EFCC which was fully aware that Ekweremadu was in custody in the United Kingdom failed to make the vital information available to court. The Judge agreed with the counsel to Ekweremadu and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adegboyega Awomolo that there was no way the former Deputy President of the Senate, would be opportuned to defend his ownership of the disputed properties. Justice Ekwo had on November 4 last year issued the interim Forfeiture Order in favour of the Federal Government following an ex-parte application brought before him …

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FG behind Ekweremadu’s UK ordeal – Ohanaeze fumes

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has accused the Federal Government of masterminding the ordeal of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in the UK. Ohanaeze was reacting to the Friday ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering interim forfeiture of 40 properties allegedly linked to Ekweremadu. In a statement on Sunday, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, said it was immoral to attack a man whose hands were tied to his back and unable to defend himself. Ohanaeze Youth Council lamented what it described as a pattern of persecution and humiliation of people from one part of the country by the EFCC, insisting it was time the monopoly of the agency by one part of country is ended through the immediate appointment of a new EFCC Chairman from the south. “The ex-parte interim assets forfeiture order by Federal High Court, Abuja, is to say the least most cruel and whoever filed that suit at this time that Ekweremadu is incarcerated and unable to defend himself has no conscience or slightest …

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Wife, children think I’m crazy offering Ekweremadu’s daughter kidney – Journalist

Kaduna-based journalist and publisher of Daily Newstime, John Adi, recently attracted public attention when he publicly made an offer to donate a kidney to the ailing daughter of a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. In this interview with ISRAEL BULUS, Adi responds to some of the questions thrown up in the public space by his offer Tell us a bit about your background. My name is John Femi Adi. I am the immediate-past Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council. I am currently the Managing Editor of an online media platform called Daily Newstime. I am also a farmer. I recently had a brief stint as an aspirant, who vied for Kogi West Senatorial seat. Funding was the obstacle that sent me out of the race. I am currently farming and doing part-time field journalism. For how long have you been a journalist? I started my journalism career with Daily Independent Newspaper in 2005 as a reporter in Kaduna after I graduated from the Department of Mass Communication, Kaduna State Polytechnic in 2002, as one of …

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Why Nigerian govt will not interfere in Ekweremadu’s organ harvesting case in UK – Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has insisted that the Nigerian government will not interfere in the legal battle involving a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is facing trial in the UK for alleged organ harvesting. Malami disclosed this while speaking to journalists on Thursday at the 46th Session of the State House Briefing at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. “It has never been the tradition of the Nigerian government to interfere in anything judicial, local or international. And that stands the position of the government. On the intervention of Senator Ekweremadu, I have stated in the course of my presentation, that there has been in existence, a mutual legal assistance request and collaboration between Nigeria and other countries across the world. We will address it if there is such a request on the part of the senator,” Malami said. Ekweremadu was charged by the UK Metropolitan Police with conspiracy to facilitate the travel of another person for organ harvesting. The 60-year-old and his wife, Beatrice, 55, allegedly arranged the travel of …

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Organ Harvesting: Ekweremadu to remain in custody as UK court adjourns hearing till Oct 31

Following the alleged organ harvesting case involving Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy president of the senate, the Central Criminal Court in the UK has adjourned the case. The judge handling the case is going to hear pretrial applications on October 31, but the trial will commence fully on May 2, 2023. The former deputy senate president and Beatrice, his wife, are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting. The couple were arrested by London Metropolitan Police in June and appeared before a magistrate court in July. Ekweremadu’s wife was granted bail on July 22. At the court on Thursday, the senator representing Enugu west asked that a new lawyer represent him. The police had alleged that David Ukpo, the reported victim at the centre of the organ harvesting allegation, is a 15-year-old but the court ruled that he is 21. TheCable had reported that the former senator wrote to the UK high commission in December 2021 to support a visa application for Ukpo. In the letter, Ekweremadu said …

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Organ Harvesting: Ekweremadu May Be Released Before 4th August – Olisa Metuh

A former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh has said that former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice might be released on bail before the 4th of August. David Ukpo who alleged that he was 15 years old and was being trafficked by the Ekweremadus, in West Minister Magistrates Court on Thursday admitted that he is 21 years old. Olisa Metuh was one of the Nigerians present at the hearing on Thursday in solidarity with the Ekweremadus. When asked if Ekweremadu will be released before the 4th of August, Metuh told Arise TV, “The Defence counsel said there was no exploitation involved in court today after the victim’s confession. “We will apply for bail before the 4th of August and the system will decide but we are hopeful. “This is a country governed by rules we are really praying and believe he will be granted bail before the 4th of August.”

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Organ Harvest: Letter to UK Embassy unfolds victim’s Identity

The ongoing quagmire in the alleged purported Organ harvest against the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Enugu West, a  letter dated December 28, 2021, signed by him and addressed to the Visa Section of the British High Commission in Abuja has disclosed the identity of the boy that was allegedly trafficked to London for the purpose of organ harvesting. Fresh facts have emerged on the arrest of  Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice over conspiracy to sponsor a child for kidney harvesting as In December 28, 2021, the former Deputy President of Senaten had written  the British Embassy to support the visa application of the kidney donor. According to the letter signed by Ekweremadu, the alleged victim is Mr Ukpo Nwamini David who was billed to donate a kidney to Ms Sonia Ekweremadu, Ike and Beatrice’s daughter, who is down with kidney failure and needed a kidney transplant to stay alive. It was learnt that the process had been concluded with the boy’s consent, who is said to be 21 years. It was …

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Court Rules In Favour Of Ekweremadu, Asks NIMC, Others To Release Ukpo’s Biodata

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday ruled in favour of embattled former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice in a case file where the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Identity Management Commission were mentioned as defendants. Reacall that Senator Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested and detained in the United Kingdom days ago over an alleged conspiracy to bring a child to Britain for organ harvesting. It was mentioned that the couple had allegedly taken one David Ukpo Nwamini to the UK to harvest his organs. Ekweremadu’s arrest by the London Metropolitan Police had since generated a series of controversies. The couple were subsequently arraigned before Uxbridge Magistrate Court which ordered that they should be remanded in custody till July 7 while investigations continue into the allegations against them. Although the Met police said Nwamini was 15, the NIS said it issued an international passport indicating his age as 21 after due process. However, Ekweremadu and his wife through their counsel and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo, on June 27 …

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Ike Ekweremadu’s kinsmen tackles FG, AU, ECOWAS over UK investigation

The kinsmen of the former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu have demanded that due process be followed in his ongoing trial over alleged organ harvesting in the United Kingdom. The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the group, under the auspices of Ikeoha Mpu Pacesetters League, made the call in a statement on Thursday in Enugu by its Coordinating Chairman, Mr Chijioke Ezekwe. Ezekwe also called on the Federal Government, African sub-regional institutions and the Igbo community to ensure justice in the matter. Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested last week by the Metropolitan Police in London for alleged conspiracy to harvest the organ of a minor, Nwamini David. Though David claimed to be 15 years old, the Nigeria Immigration Service has clarified that the documents he presented for his passport application indicated that he is 21. However, Ezekwe said, “We, therefore, urge the Federal Government, ECOWAS, African Union , Nigerian Senate, Igbo communities both home and in the Diaspora to impress on the British authorities to ensure that due process is followed in carrying out their investigations on …

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Ike Ekweremadu: How my journey to UK for job turned into organ harvesting – 15-year-old boy reveals

David Ukpo Nwamini, the alleged 15-year-old boy who was taken to the United Kingdom by a former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has narrated how he landed in London. The boy was flown to the UK to donate one of his kidneys to Ike Ekweremadu’s daughter who has a kidney ailment. But the Specialist Crime Team of the Metropolitan Police in London arrested the Senator and his wife, Beatrice. Our correspondents learnt that Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested on Tuesday at the Heathrow Airport in London en route to Istanbul in Turkey and detained on allegations of child trafficking and organ harvesting after they had flown David to the UK for a kidney transplant. They were arraigned before a UK Magistrate court on Thursday. Ekweremadu and his wife were subsequently denied bail in court, and the case was adjourned to July 7 for further hearing. David Ukpo Nwamini narrated that the Senator had told him to work for his company in the United Kingdom. David who posted on his Facebook timeline explained that the lawmaker didn’t tell him …

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The story is twisted, the boy is a hustler – Daddy Freeze reacts to arrest of Ekweremadu over kidney donation

Following the arrest of ex-Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice for alleged organ harvesting in the UK, popular media personality, Daddy Freeze has reacted. Precise Post earlier reported that Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice were arrested at Heathrow airport, London and arraigned in court for allegedly plotting to harvest the kidney of a Nigerian minor. But, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charges at the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court. Magistrate Lois Sheard remanded both defendants in custody ahead of their hearing on July 7th. Media personality, Daddy Freeze has taken to Instagram to react to the incident, saying that the whole story looks twisted as the boy does not sound or look like a 15 years old boy. Freeze who also described the boy as an hustler asserted that the Ekweremadus are suffering from the unintended consequences of being part of a political structure that benefited them at the expense of the boy. Read his full post This aside, the Ekweremadus are suffering from the unintended consequences of being part of a political structure that benefited them at the …

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Organ Harvesting: ‘I stand with the 15-yr-old homeless boy’ – Chioma Ifemeludike slams Ike Ekweremadu

Nollywood actress, Chioma Ifemeludike has revealed her stand on the on going crisis rocking former Nigerian deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu who were arrested in the United Kingdom over allegations of Organ harvesting. According to Met Police Press Release, the Ekweremadus were charged for conspiring to arrange the travel of a homeless child into the UK in order to harvest his organs. 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. And Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting. They have both been remanded in custody and appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court,” part of MET police report read. While reacting to this, the controversial Nollywood actress who had confessed to sleeping with apostle Suleman Johnson for money gains noted that she stands with the Homeless boy and would want Justice to be served at all cost. “I stand with the homeless …

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