Ekweremadu was in court on Thursday in continuation of their organ harvesting trial
By Emma Ogbuehi
The case involving the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, over alleged organ harvesting, has been adjourned till Monday, October 31 for next hearing, by a London Magistrates Court.
The matter came up on Thursday, August 4, 2022, when Ekweremadu, appeared before the Central Criminal Court, the United Kingdom in continuation of his organ harvesting trial.
Earlier information had announced that the lawmaker, his wife, Beatrice and a 51-year-old Obinna Obeta, said to have been arrested weeks ago on charges related to slavery and exploitation, were scheduled to make the Thursday appearance.
According to Channels Television’s reports from the Central Criminal Court in Central London, the case had captured the attention of the world’s media because of its complexity.
“We are expecting three individuals to appear in front of the judge today. That is the former Deputy Senate President; his wife, Beatrice and the third individual who was arrested by the Metropolitan Police a couple of weeks ago for charges related to Modern Slavery and Exploitation,” the medium had reported.
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The judge and prosecutor were expected to lay out the offences, which will create room for the main trial.
Ekweremadu represents Enugu West Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He was arrested and detained alongside his wife by the Metropolitan Police, London, over alleged conspiracy on organ harvesting of one David Ukpo Nwamini.
They were accused of conspiring to traffic a homeless man into the UK to harvest his kidney for their daughter.
According to UK-based Daily Mail, Beatrice was charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, between August 1 last year and May 5, under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
While the husband, Ike was charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The Uxbridge Magistrate Court in the United Kingdom had denied bail to the couple concerning their involvement in alleged human trafficking and organ harvesting.
The arrest was announced by Specialist Crime Team of the Metropolitan Police in London in June, with officials saying the couple would be charged promptly before a court in Uxbridge.
The Metropolitan Police said; “Two people have been charged with conspiring to bring a child to the UK in order to harvest organs.
“Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55, and Ike Ekweremadu, 60, have been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’.
“Charges were brought against the pair, who are from Nigeria, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team.
“A child has now been safeguarded.
“The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022, the force said.”
Initial allegation was that their alleged victim in the case is a homeless 15-year-old boy who was brought to the U.K. by Ekweremadu and his wife off the streets of Lagos in Nigeria. Reports later indicated that the said victim was an adult, contrary to his claims.
In July, the Court granted Ekweremadu’s wife bail, while holding the senator.
