LunagisthubUK Rejects Nigeria’s Request to Transfer Convicted Organ Trafficker Ekweremadu
The UK government has rejected Nigeria’s request to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to serve out his prison sentence in Nigeria. Ekweremadu was convicted of organ trafficking in 2023 and sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison
Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and Dr. Obinna Obeta were found guilty of conspiring to exploit a young man for his kidney. The victim was brought to the UK and taken to the Royal Free Hospital in London for a proposed £80,000 transplant. The trio falsely presented the victim as Sonia’s cousin who had volunteered to donate his kidney
The UK government rejected Nigeria’s request due to concerns that Ekweremadu would not serve his full sentence in Nigeria. A UK government source stated that “the UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law.” The UK government also emphasized that any prisoner transfer is at their discretion, following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice
Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, while his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months. Beatrice has since been released after serving half of her term and has returned to Nigeria
This decision highlights the UK’s commitment to tackling modern slavery and organ trafficking. The case has sparked debate in Nigeria, with critics questioning why the government is intervening for Ekweremadu and not for other Nigerians imprisoned in the UK
What are your thoughts on the UK’s stance on modern slavery and organ trafficking? Should governments prioritize justice for victims or consider prisoner transfers based on humanitarian grounds?
Lunagisthub
