The United Kingdom has rejected Nigeria’s appeal to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu back to the country to serve his prison sentence. Ekweremadu, 63, was sentenced in 2023 to nine years and eight months in the UK after being convicted of conspiring to harvest a young man’s kidney for his daughter’s transplant.
Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice, and medical doctor Obinna Obeta were also convicted in the case, marking the first prosecution for organ trafficking under Britain’s Modern Slavery Act. The case drew global attention due to its high-profile defendants and the gravity of the crime.
A Nigerian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar met with officials from the UK Ministry of Justice last week, requesting Ekweremadu’s repatriation. However, sources revealed the request was denied over concerns Nigeria could not guarantee that he would continue serving the full term.
UK officials emphasized that prisoner transfers are considered only when they serve the “interests of justice,” and reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery. “Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment,” a Ministry of Justice source stated.
During sentencing, Justice Jeremy Johnson described the trio’s actions as part of a “despicable trade,” adding that the harvesting of human organs constitutes a form of slavery. He identified Ekweremadu as the “driving force” behind the plot, marking a significant fall from grace for the former Nigerian lawmaker.
The plot involved bringing the victim to the Royal Free Hospital in London for a proposed £80,000 transplant under false pretences. Despite attempts to bribe hospital staff, the procedure was halted after the victim escaped and reported the crime. Obeta had earlier received a kidney transplant at the same hospital from another allegedly trafficked donor and is serving a 10-year sentence.
Nigeria’s attempt to secure Ekweremadu’s transfer has sparked public debate, drawing criticism from citizens who question the ethics of intervening for a convicted trafficker. At the time of reporting, Nigeria’s High Commission in London had not commented on the UK’s decision.
