The Metropolitan Police has arrested and charged three-time Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Nwanneka to court on organ trafficking charges.
The couple was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, on their way to Istanbul, Turkey to procure a kidney donor for their ailing daughter after a plan to use an unnamed minor from Nigeria was frustrated by the UK authorities.
According to Arise TV, $20,000 was found with Ekweremadu during his arrest, and has been seized by authorities.
Ekweremadu is one of Nigeria’s longest-serving Senators, currently serving his fifth consecutive term representing the Enugu-West senatorial district in Enugu State. He also holds the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) national honour.
The Ekweremadus stand accused of conspiring to bring a minor into the United Kingdom solely for organ harvesting. According to the Met Police, the unnamed minor who was issued a forged passport showing a false age has been put in protective care.
The news, which is rocking Nigeria at the moment, has elicited strong reactions from across social media.
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The organ trafficking charge was brought against the Ekweremadu’s following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team.
Organ harvesting involves removing parts of the body for sale, often against the wish of the victim.
According to UK-based Dr Dipo Awojide, “it’s either Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, or one of their children has a medical condition and they brought another person’s child into the UK to harvest their organs and use them. Whatever it is, this is so shocking. The UK doesn’t play with children.
“If convicted, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife are going to jail in the UK. This is the saddest thing that can happen to a Nigerian big man.”
The Met Police revealed that the investigation commenced after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
The couple is due to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 23, 2022.