London/Abuja – In a significant diplomatic and legal decision, the United Kingdom (UK) government has rejected the Federal Government of Nigeria’s high-level request to allow former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to complete his nearly decade-long prison sentence for organ trafficking in Nigeria.
The rejection, confirmed by UK officials, ensures that Ekweremadu will remain in a UK correctional facility, signaling the UK’s commitment to the integrity of its judicial process and the full enforcement of sentences for modern slavery offenses.
The Request and the Refusal
Earlier this month, a delegation from President Bola Tinubu’s administration, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, traveled to London to formally discuss the possibility of repatriating Ekweremadu under the Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TOSP) agreement.
However, sources at the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have confirmed the request was turned down.
- The Conviction: Ekweremadu was convicted in March 2023 of conspiring to exploit a young man’s kidney for his daughter, Sonia, a crime under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.
He was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison.
- The UK’s Concern: The primary reason cited for the rejection is the UK government’s concern that Nigeria could offer no guarantees that Ekweremadu would complete his full prison term after being transferred.
- Official Statement: A source quoted by international media stated, “Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice… The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law.”
Modern Slavery and the Rule of Law
The high-profile nature of the case—which involved a senior political figure attempting to traffic a vulnerable individual for an organ—has made it a crucial test of the UK’s resolve against modern slavery.
The UK’s decision underscores that the gravity of the offense and the need for a strong deterrent outweigh diplomatic considerations in this instance.
The conviction was a landmark case, being the first under the UK Modern Slavery Act relating to organ trafficking.
Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice, who was also convicted in the case, was released earlier this year after serving her sentence of four years and six months (with half spent in custody).
The rejection now closes a significant pathway for the former Deputy Senate President to return home before the completion of his sentence, ensuring he remains within the British penal system for the foreseeable future.
The National Debate
The Federal Government’s decision to dispatch a high-level delegation to advocate for Ekweremadu’s transfer had itself sparked a vigorous debate in Nigeria. Critics questioned why similar efforts had not been made for the over 230 other Nigerian citizens serving prison sentences in the UK for various offenses.
This latest development firmly places the emphasis back on the supremacy of UK law and its determined stance against international organ trafficking.
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