In preparation for their trial for organ harvesting, the former deputy senate president of Nigeria and his wife appeared in a London court on Tuesday. His accused daughter, however, was unable to make it because she is currently receiving treatment.
Ike Ekweremadu, 60, showed up at the Old Bailey court wearing a grey tracksuit top. When asked to confirm his name, all he said was “Yes, miss.”
He is accused of transporting a 21-year-old man from Nigeria to have his kidney removed along with his wife Beatrice, daughter Sonia, and a doctor.
According to the prosecution, the defendants allegedly intended to have the man’s kidney removed so that Sonia could receive it.
She is currently being treated at a hospital for an undisclosed disease, therefore she was unable to attend court.
She is allegedly unfit to stand trial, according to a psychological report provided by her defense team.
Soon after it began, the court adjourned so that the prosecution could read the report.
According to reports, the complainant raised the alarm after declining to agree to the treatment following initial testing at a hospital in north London.
After the man went to the police, charges were filed. The Ekweremadus were detained at London’s Heathrow airport in June of last year after arriving in the country.
Obinna Obeta, a 50-year-old doctor from south London, was the second man to be detained.
The trial’s originally scheduled May date has been moved up.
Senator Ekweremadu represents the southeastern Enugu state of Nigeria for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
According to UK modern slavery law, the Ekweremadus and the doctor are accused of conspiring to set up another person’s travel with the intention of exploitation.
The alleged crime is said to have occurred between August 2021 and May 2022.
Concerns that Ike Ekweremadu would leave Britain led to the rejection of his bail request.
Obeta was also held in custody. Sonia and Beatrice Ekwermadu have been released on conditional bail.
During the brief meeting on Tuesday morning, Beatrice sat next to her husband in the dock wearing just black.
Before the hearing on Tuesday, both supporters and protesters gathered outside the London court.
“I mean, this case is unbelievable,” said protester Citizen Gbola.
“Where else in the world would you have a deputy senate president — who is still a serving senator, he’s still getting his regular wage?”
