Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo appeals for mercy in organ trafficking Case

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo appeals for mercy in organ trafficking Case

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, in London, regarding the recent conviction of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, for organ trafficking.

Olusegun Obasanjo

The couple face the risk of a 10-year prison sentence in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 of the United Kingdom, following the guilty verdicts pronounced by Mr Justice Johnson. They have been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on May 5. In his letter, dated April 3, 2023, Obasanjo requested that the Clerk intervene and ensure that the UK government shows clemency towards the Ekweremadus.

Ike Ekweremadu

He acknowledged the seriousness of their actions, which involved conspiring to arrange the travel of a young man from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. However, he urged the court and the UK government to take into account the couple’s good character and parental instincts, and to be merciful in their sentencing. Obasanjo expressed his desire for warm relations between the UK and Nigeria, and highlighted Ike Ekweremadu‘s position as a distinguished member of the Nigerian Parliament. He also emphasized the urgent medical attention required by their daughter, whose current health condition is in danger. The former president concluded by expressing his hope that the Ekweremadus have learnt from this experience and that they will continue to be outstanding members of their community, contributing fully to the good of society and the nation in general. “Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year-old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. “I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilised society. “However, it is my fervent desire for very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration. “I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide
their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.” he wrote.

Ekweremadu, wife risk 10 years in UK prison for organ trafficking

Ekweremadu, wife risk 10 years in UK prison for organ trafficking

Former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, risk being sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in accordance with the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Ekweremadu, wife risk 10 years in UK prison for organ trafficking

Following their guilty verdict delivered by Mr Justice Johnson on March 23rd, the duo was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 5. The accusations were also faced by a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, and the Ekweremadus’ daughter, Sonia, who was later cleared of charges. Ike Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested after a young man from Lagos reported their alleged plans to harvest his organ, for which he was to be rewarded £80,000 for donating a kidney to Sonia in a private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The harvesting of organs falls under the umbrella of human trafficking, which is prohibited by the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. The UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 According to the human trafficking offence in Section 2 Subsection 1 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, a person commits an offence if the person arranges or facilitates the travel of another person (“V”) with a view to V being exploited. Subsection 2 states that it is irrelevant whether V consents to the travel (whether V is an adult or a child). In Section 2 Subsection 7, the law stated that “a person who is not a UK national commits an offence under this section if any part of the arranging or facilitating takes place in the United Kingdom, or the travel consists of arrival in or entry into, departure from, or travel within, the United Kingdom.” The penalties under the Act stated in Section 5 Subsection that a person guilty of an offence under section 1 or 2 is liable, (a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life; (b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine or both. In Section 5 Subsection 2, a person guilty of an offence under Section 4 is liable (unless Subsection 3 applies), (a)on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years; (b)on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine or both. Subsection 3 states that where the offence under Section 4 is committed by kidnapping or false imprisonment, a person guilty of that offence is liable, on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for life.

Update on Ike Ekweremadu’s organ harvesting trial

GistReel

Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife appeared in court on Tuesday, 31st January, 2023 in London ahead of their trial for organ harvesting. According to AFP, the duo appeared without their daughter who is currently in the hospital receiving treatment.

The senator, together with his wife Beatrice, daughter Sonia, and a doctor were accused of bringing a 21-year-old boy from Nigeria to have his kidney removed so it could be given to Sonia, his daughter. However, in absence of his daughter, a defence team submitted a psychological report, claiming she is not fit to stand trial. The court adjourned soon after convening in order for prosecutors to read the report. The 21-year-old accuser is said to have alerted authorities after refusing to consent to the medical procedure, following preliminary tests at a north London hospital causing the arrest of the Ekweremadus in June, 2022 at London’s Heathrow airport after flying into the UK. One Obinna Obeta, a 50-year-old doctor from south London, was also arrested later. The offence is alleged to have taken place between August 2021 and May 2022. Supporters and protesters gathered around the London court ahead of the hearing.

“At the expense of another human’s life?” – Netizens lambast Reno Omokri as he reveals what he’d do if it were his child that needs an organ

"At the expense of another human's life?" – Netizens lambast Reno Omokri as he reveals what he'd do if it were his child that needs an organ

Controversial political commentator, Reno Omokri has been lambasted over recent revelation.
The human rights activist, reacting to the news of the Ekweremadu’s organ haarvestiing saga, stated that if it were his kid who needed an organ, he’d bend the rules for their sake.

According to him, if his child were to be in desperate need of a donor and he and his wife aren’t a match for the kid, he’d pay a willing adult to donate his organ.
In his words:.
“If any of my children need organs to save their life, (God forbid), and my wife and i are not a match, I will do anything legally possible to get them a match, including paying a willing adult to donate their organ to them.
And even that ‘legally’ is qualified. If my child is dying and I can bend the rules to save their life, what would I do? Perhaps I can’t answer that question here.
Majority of the people that are active on social media are young adults who do not have children. So, they don’t know the lengths to which love for your children can drive you. That is why they are spilling and spreading vitriol against people who are in a state of grief. I empathise greatly with the Ekweremadus and hope fort their vindication and continue to wish Ike Ekweremadu well. May God be with them, in Christ’s Name.”

Netizens have criticized what he said;
sleekjk2 wrote: “Oh really? The love for your child would drive u to endanger the life of another person’s child? Wow!!!”
wendy_adamma wrote: ” Ahh At the expense of another human’s life? What happened to your own kidney?”

Man fingered as the individual Ike Ekweremadu flew to UK for alleged organ harvesting finally speaks (Video)

Man fingered to be the individual Ike Ekweremadu took to UK for alleged organ harvesting speaks (Video)

Man fingered to be the individual Ike Ekweremadu took to UK for alleged organ harvesting speaks (Video)

A man identified as Vincent Jeremiah has debunked claims of being the individual that was flown abroad by the former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu for alleged organ harvesting.
Recall that news about the apprehension of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka made rounds online and several reports trailed the incident.

Man fingered to be the individual Ike Ekweremadu took to UK for alleged organ harvesting speaks (Video)

A lad subsequently went viral on social media with netizens claiming he is the individual involved in the said organ harvesting case.
Check out the claims below:

Reacting to this, the man took to his Facebook page to assert that he’s in no way connected to the incident he is being linked to.
He further avowed that he is in Nigeria and urged the public to disregard the rumour.
He wrote:
“Please kindly disregard the post flying around which suggests that I am the young man whom Ike Ekwerenmadu allegedly paid for a kidney transplant.
My name is VINCENT JEREMIAH and I have nothing to do with the said incident! Thank you.”

Watch the video he shared below:

Ike Ekweremadu, wife arrested in UK over child organ h@rvesting plot

Ike Ekweremadu, wife arrested in UK over child organ h@rvesting plot

Popular politician, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu have been arrested in the UK over conspiracy to bring child to UK for organ haarrrvesting.
According to reports, the Metropolitan police in the UK have detained Ekweremadu and his wife and would be appearing Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

According to the police, an inquiry began when detectives received information about possible offenses under modern slaavvery legislation.
An official statement released by the Metropolitan police reads:
“A woman and a man were charged today with conspiring to arrange the travel of a child into the UK in order to haaarvvvest organs.
“The charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team.
A] 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 harrrvvvesting.
“[B] 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 harrrvvvesting.
“They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.
“The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slaaavvery legislation in May 2022.
“A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support.
“As criminal proceedings are now underway we will not be providing further details.”