Organ Harvesting: UK Court Resumes Trial Of Detained Nigerian Senator

Afimag.com –

Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s trial on the alleged organ harvesting has resumed on January 31, 2023, in the United Kingdom.

This was against the back drop that the case was adjourned in November, while arguments were heard on December 16 and 19, 2022.

Recall that Ekweremadu who is the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his wife, Beatrice were arrested on June 23 in London.

The couple was, however, accused of conspiracy for human trafficking and organ harvesting. According to the UK court, Ekweremadu’s alleged crime was in violation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The prosecutors told the court that the defendants plotted to have the kidney removed from a 21-year-old Nigerian man and it could be given to the Ekweremmadu’s daughter.

Following preliminary tests at a north London hospital, the man was said to have raised the alarm after refusing to consent to the procedure.

Charges were filed after the man approached police in a town outside of London, and the senator and his wife were nabbed in June last year at London’s Heathrow airport after flying into the country.

Obinna Obeta, a 50-year-old south London doctor, was also arrested at a later date. The trial would begin on January 31, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. (WAT). It was moved up from a planned date in May. Ekweremadu is a senator from Enugu state in southeast Nigeria for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Under UK modern slavery legislation, the Ekweremadus and the doctor are accused of conspiring to arrange the travel of another person for the purpose of exploitation.

The alleged offence is said to have occurred between August 2021 and May 2022. Ike Ekweremadu’s bail application was denied due to concerns that he would flee the country.

Obeta, the doctor, was also detained. Beatrice and Sonia Ekweremadu have been granted conditional bail.