Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka, might have been ‘wrongly’ accused of trafficking a homeless boy from Lagos into the United Kingdom to harvest his organs for their ailing daughter.
Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka
KanyiDaily recalls that on June 23, the UK metropolitan police had announced that the couple were arrested over the allegation of bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting.
The duo, who were arrested following an investigation by the police’ specialist crime team, are both charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
On Thursday, the court heard how Ekweremadu and Beatrice tried to traffic a 15-year-old homeless boy from Lagos into the UK to transplant his organs to their daughter who suffers from kidney failure.
The pair were arrested at Heathrow on Tuesday before boarding a flight to Turkey – where it was suggested that the procedure could take place – the court heard.
However, a letter addressed to the UK Embassy and personally signed by the former Deputy Senate President indicated that the young man was to donate a kidney to Ekweremadu’s daughter.
Ekweremadu’s Letter On Alleged Organ Harvest
The Senator wrote to the British High Commission, Abuja, on December 28, 2021, in support of “the visa application made by Mr. Ukpo Nwamini David who is currently having medical investigations for a kidney donation to MS Sonia Ekweremadu”.
The letter read, “I am writing in support of the visa application made by Mr Ukpo Nwamini David who is currently having medical investigations for a kidney donation to Ms Sonia Ekweremadu.
“David and Sonia would be at the Royal Free Hospital, London and I would be providing the necessary funding. I have enclosed a statement of my bank account.
“Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require additional information. Please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”
KanyiDaily had earlier reported that the UK court denied Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka bail over conspiracy to harvest the organs of the child.