Former Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court in London on Thursday to face charges under the Modern Slavery Act.
The case of Ekweremadu, according to a source, was expedited. He was in good physical condition, wore a grey tracksuit, and spoke twice to confirm his name and date of birth.
In her defence, his wife Beatrice urged the court to allow her to appear at his side because she has not seen him since Thursday’s hearing. However, this plea was denied.
David Ukpo, who said he was forced to donate his kidney to the senator’s daughter, is 15 years old, according to the prosecution. David was allegedly abducted from the streets of Lagos months ago by a criminal gang with the goal of harvesting his organs.
The court remanded Ekweremadu in custody because he is a powerful person and a flight risk, and since the case involves a minor and modern slavery.
The case has been postponed until July 7 at Westminster Magistrate Court so that the Attorney General of the United Kingdom, Suella Braverman, can decide whether it will be heard in the United Kingdom or Nigeria.
In addition to the senator’s two adult children, there was a big group from the Nigerian High Commission in the public gallery.
Wednesday, the Senate announced that a delegation would be visiting Ekweremadu and his wife.
This was stated by Senate President Ahmad Lawan following a closed-door session of lawmakers in Abuja. He indicated that members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will soon travel to the United Kingdom.
“There will be a delegation to London to see Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife. A delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate will leave in the next two days for London for that purpose,” Lawan said.
“I want to urge all federal government institutions that can do anything to ensure that justice prevails in this case, that they do so.”
He also said the Nigerian High Commission has engaged the services of lawyers in the UK to defend Senator Ekweremadu.
“I had a personal engagement with our Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain, Alhaji Isola Sarafa, who has done so well to establish contact with our colleague, who has been able to get his team to be in the court at Uxbridge where Ekweremadu was taken to,” Lawan added
“The high Commission has also been able to provide some consular services that include the engagement of some lawyers who will defend our colleague.
“We commend them for giving attention to the issue at stake. Equally, the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister has been engaged here, so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes steps to provide diplomatic support for our colleague.
“Because this issue is already in court, we have limited opportunity to discuss beyond what we have done so far.
“But I want to ensure the family of our colleague, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and Nigerians, that the Senate will continue to engage with our ministry of foreign affairs as well as our high commission in London. The High Commission has done so much but we still expect that it will continue to provide any other further consular services.”
