GODWIN OBI
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu returned to the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, in the United Kingdom on Thursday over alleged organ harvesting and modern slavery charges against him and his wife, Beatrice.
Ekweremadu was in the dock where he spoke twice; confirming his name and date of birth. His two adult sons were also in court with him but his wife was not.
The case which came up a week earlier than scheduled was to enable UK Attorney-General, Suella Braverman determine whether Ekweremadu can be tried in Nigeria.
The matter was adjourned to the original date of July 7, but this time Ekweremadu will appear before a judge at the Westminster Magistrate court.
The prosecution however insists that the case involved a child and modern slavery, stressing that Ekweremadu is a “powerful man” and a flight risk if granted bail.
Last week, the Metropolitan Police arrested and charged Ekweremadu and his wife for allegedly bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting.
It will be recalled that the Ekweremadus had through their lawyers applied for a court order directing the Nigerian Immigration Service, National Identity Management Commission, United Bank of Africa, UBA, and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc to supply them with the Certified True Copy of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo.
In an originating summon marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2022, dated and filed on June 27 by their counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, the couple said the information was for the purposes of facilitating the criminal investigation and tendering same to establish their innocence with respect to Ukpo’s age in the charges against them.
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