An Old Bailey jury in the United Kingdom has found Ike Ekweremadu, the former deputy senate president, and his wife, Beatrice, have been found guilty of “conspiracy to facilitate and arrange travel with the aim of exploitation.”
Also found guilty along with the couple was Obinna Obeta, the fourth defendant, while their daughter, Sonia, was not found guilty, The Guardian reported.
With being found guilty of organ trafficking, the senior couple of Nigeria is at risk of spending 10 years in UK prison as stipulated by the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Justice Johnson of the Old Bailey gave the verdict on Thursday, March 23 and remanded Ekweremadu and Beatrice in custody till May 5, when their sentencing would be decided. Their daughter, Sonia, was socked in tears on the dock after the conviction was handed over to her parents.
Her mother also cried, but she stopped and wiped her tears because the court was still in session, but Sonia continued crying.
It was reported that the couple would be the first to be convicted under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015. After the court discharged the jury and the proceeding ended, the ex-deputy senate president then went and put his arms around his wife and daughter.
The family embraced for about a minute while their daughter continued to cry.
The EFCC has lost the right to temporarily seize 40 properties of the embattled former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu This is as a federal high court in Abuja set aside the interim forfeiture order earlier granted to the EFCC on behalf of the federal government The court set aside the order on the ground that the EFCC concealed some fact when it apply for the interim forfeiture order
