President Olusegun Obasanjo pleads for Ike Ekweremadu in an impassioned letter addressed to a Chief Clerk at the London Bailey.
A court at the London Bailey convicted the Senator, his wife Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta. They were charged with conspiracy to exploit a 21-year old for his kidney.
Although all three denied the charges, the jury however found them guilty.
The charge, which carries a life sentence, is the first of its kind heard under the modern slavery laws of the UK.
President Obasanjo addressed his plea letter, dated 3 April 2023, to the Chief Clerk, Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London.
The former President pleaded with the authorities in the 2-page letter to exercise mercy in Ekweremadu’s sentencing due next month.
He based the plea on Ekweremadu’s “inspiring career” as a lawyer, legislator and philanthropist.
Tracing the history of their association since the Senator came to the National Assembly in 2003, he said:
“I truly cherish his God-fearing, dispassionate, moderate and pan-Nigerian approach to national issues and developments, in our multi-ethnic, multi-religious geo-polity.
“He dedicates himself to the service of God and humanity and he continues to play visible roles in national development.
The former President also mentioned the charitable activities that the couple carries out, using their not-for-profit, Ikeoha Foundation.
The Foundation, he said, gives poor people access to quality education and healthcare, and builds their capacity to participate in social, political and economic activities.
He affirmed to the chief clerk that the offence of organ trafficking is “unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.”
He however pleaded that the court exercises mercy based on Nigeria-UK relations, his position as a senator, and for the sake of his daughter that requires urgent medical attention.
President Obasanjo therefore implored the Clerk to “intervene and appeal to the court and the Government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy.
“… let the punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration,” he pleaded.
Ekweremadu’s indictment for organ trafficking
The BBC London reported on 23 March that a jury found against the Senator, his wife, Beatrce, and a medical doctor, in a charge of organ trafficking plot.
A jury constituted to hear the case at the Old Bailey found the trio guilty of conspiring to exploit a 21-year old for his kidney.
The presumed organ donor, David Nwamini Ukpo, was a street trader in Lagos, from where he was transported to the UK to donate a kidney to the Senator’s daughter, Sonia.
The prosecutor alleged that David was offered up to 7,000 British pounds and work opportunities in the UK for the exchange, which made it a crime by British law.
Doctors at the Royal Free Hospital where the transplant was to take place, judged Ukpo unsuitable because he was not fully briefed about the risks.
Consequently, the Ekweremadus flew to India to look for an alternate donor, the court heard.
Meanwhile, Ukpo slipped out from the London home of the Ekweremadus and found his way to a police station to report that he was brought to London for organ donation without his consent.
This led to the arrest of the trio, including the daughter who was at that time in hospital.
All three convicted persons denied the charges against them.
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