Ekweremadu’s Daughter, Sonia Disagrees With Parents’ Conviction, Says She Feel Guilty [Video]

Sonia Ekweremadu, the daughter of a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has reacted to the conviction of her father and mother in the United Kingdom.

KanyiDaily recalls that yesterday May 5, a United Kingdom court sentenced Ike Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison for organ trafficking.

The court also sentenced his wife, Beatrice, to four years six months while the medical doctor who acted as a ‘middleman’ in the plot, Dr Obinna Obeta, was sentenced to 10 years and his medical license was also suspended.

In March 2023, the jury found the convicts guilty of criminal conspiracy to bring a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

The young man was said to have been falsely presented as the cousin of Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia, in a failed bid to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

The man was said to have been offered an illegal reward to become a donor for Sonia after kidney disease forced her to drop out of a master’s degree in film at Newcastle University.

Sonia Ekweremadu Reacts

During an interview with BBC, Sonia said she disagreed with her parents’ conviction even though she understands it and will be moving on from the case.

Sonia, who noted that things won’t remain the same following her parents’ conviction, added that she feels guilty because everything happened because of her.

How were your parents arrested?

My brother and sister were home and the doorbell rang. We thought they were our parents, but it was a bunch of policemen at the door. They told me why they were arresting me, and my first reaction was shock. It was difficult, not just for me, but seeing my parents in that situation was a lot.

What are your thoughts on your parents’ conviction?

It is sad. It has been really hard to wrap my head around it.

Do you understand the conviction and why they were found guilty?

I understand the conviction. Personally, I disagree with it. However, that is from a very biased perspective as their daughter. I will obviously always back my parents. However, the law has taken its course and we have to move forward as a family.

Apart from the case and trial, I am also doing my dialysis.

What is the condition that you have?

It is called Nephrotic syndrome. Basically, my kidneys are small and they have big holes in them. It is either I stay on dialysis for the rest of my life or I get a transplant. These are my two options.

Was it not possible to get a donor within your family?

There is a gene issue. This meant that the family was excluded, especially on my dad’s side, because they have quite a history of the condition. In August 2021, when I found out that there was a possibility that I would need a transplant, I reached out to people for help.

How involved were you in finding a donor, in particular, this young man?

I was not involved at all. It was mostly my family that handled everything that had to do with my medical condition.

Were you aware that your parents were trying to bring someone from Nigeria to the UK?

I mean, I was aware that someone did come forward. He had just come over to the UK with my uncle. My mom and I wanted to thank him for that. The picture was taken and kept for memories.

It was mentioned in court that this man was portrayed as your cousin. Did you know that was the case?

I cannot answer that. I don’t feel anything towards him (trafficked victim). I wish him all the best, and that is just it.

There was a text between you and your parents where they showed you a couple of people who could be donors. Was that not involvement from your side?

I wouldn’t say it was an involvement. They just wanted me to see the progress that they had made.

Have you been able to find someone else?

Shortly after that, I put out an appeal and a lot of people came up, but we haven’t been able to do anything with that as of now because I am still under dialysis. Hopefully, I will be able to get the transplant soon. Our family is still in the middle of a trial. I want to use this opportunity to apologise to them (potential donors) for the way everything has played out.

You have been seen visiting your parents in prison. How are they taking the whole situation?

They are quite calm, surprisingly. Erm, yeah.

Do they feel any remorse?

 I cannot really speak on how they are feeling. This is just from an outside perspective, seeing them. They are okay. They are just neutral.

What has been your lesson from all this?

Life is just so dynamic. One day, you are in your house chilling, the next day, your whole life is turned upside down. That is my main focus. I want to try and help, specifically, people with kidney conditions just to show that they don’t need to be scared. Obviously, there is support from my siblings and my new parents and their siblings as well. However, I don’t think it will ever be the same. I feel guilty because I feel like all this has happened because of me.

Watch the video below:

A Nigerian senator, has been jailed for almost 10 years for an organ-trafficking plot, along with his wife, who received a four-and-a-half-year sentence.

They wanted a new kidney for their daughter.

Sonia Ekweremadu spoke to @simijourno before the court sentences were given. pic.twitter.com/Wu2O2Dht6A

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) May 6, 2023

Meanwhile, Nigerians have reacted to Ike Ekweremadu’s jail sentence, saying it was well deserved justice, others sympathized with him and his family.