Category: Lead

– I’m scared, can’t return to Nigeria, victim begs for UK stay

– MET warns of rise in multimillion pound modern slaver

The 11-month London trial of former deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice and their United Kingdom-based medical ‘middleman’, Obinna Obeta, ended on a sour note for the Nigerians yesterday following their sentencing to a total of 24 years and four months.

They were jailed for conspiring to arrange the travel of a young man, David Nwamini, from Nigeria to London for the purpose of harvesting his kidney for the Ekweremadus’ daughter, Sonia.

The court branded Eke Ekweremadu’s fate as a substantial fall from grace.

The Crown Prosecution Service said the trial was Britain’s first illegal organ-harvesting prosecution.

Nwamini pleaded to be allowed to remain in the UK because “I worry for my safety in Nigeria.”

A MET official said there seemed to be a sharp rise in modern slavery, and confirmed that more cases of organ harvesting were under investigation.

They had been convicted in March by the court which only handed down punishment yesterday.

The 60-year-old former DSP was jailed for nine years and eight months, Beatrice, 56, got four and a half years while Obeta, 51, will spend 10 years in jail.

In the televised judgement yesterday, Mr Justice Johnson told the convicts: “You each played a part in that despicable trade ”that “preys  the poverty, misery and desperation” of vulnerable people.

“People-trafficking across international borders for the harvesting of human organs is a form of slavery,” he said.

“It treats human beings and their body parts as commodities to be bought and sold.”

He said Nwamini would have “faced spending the rest of his life with only one kidney and without the requisite funding for the required aftercare,” if the planned harvesting of his kidney had gone as planned.

He said there had been no consent  by Nwamini to the harvesting of his kidney “in any meaningful sense.”

Nwamini, who was said to be a street hawker in Lagos, said in a statement read in court that he “would never (have) agreed to any of this.”

“My body is not for sale,” he said and pleaded to be allowed to live in the UK because he could be harmed if he returned to Nigeria.

“I cannot think about going home to Nigeria,” he said.

“These people are extremely powerful and I worry for my family.”

He claimed someone visited his father in Nigeria and asked the father to get him to drop the case.

“Even though I live here in the UK at the moment I know I need to be careful too.

“I have no one here, no family, no friends.

“I am having to start my life again.

“I’m worried about my family in Nigeria, but I have been told my dad had been visited and was told to drop the case in the UK.”

He ruled out seeking compensation from those he labeled ‘bad people’ for any such money would be “cursed and bad luck”.

He plans to work, get an education and play football.

The London Daily Mail quoted the prosecution as saying Nwamini was offered up to £7,000 and the promise of a better life in the UK.

It said the convicts had presented him to medics at the Royal Free as Sonia’s cousin whereas they are not related.

At some point, the victim was photographed sharing a meal with Sonia to create the impression of a family relationship, jurors were told.

But medics at the Royal Free remained unconvinced, citing the donor’s ‘incongruous’ relationship with the recipient and their ‘disparity’.

When the transplant bid failed, the Ekweremadus switched to Turkey to explore the possibility of finding more potential donors, the court was told.

The police commenced their investigation after Nwamini ran away from London and slept rough for days before walking into a police station more than 20 miles away in Staines in Surrey, crying and in distress.

He told the police how he fled in fear for his life after overhearing a plan to take him back to Nigeria for the procedure after the transplant plan in London failed.

The investigation exposed Ekweremadu as sponsor of the victim’s trip.

Sonia’s parents were later arrested on June 21 last year as they arrived on a flight to Heathrow, stepping off the plane with $30,000.

A police search of Obeta’s address on the Old Kent Road in South London revealed a fake affidavit purporting the victim and Sonia as biological cousins.

Detectives also found in the convicts’ phones a stream of messages detailing the progress of the failed organ transplant plan.

Sonia had become sick while studying for a master’s degree at Newcastle University in December 2019.

Obeta was the former medical school classmate of Ike Ekweremadu’s brother and had undergone a kidney transplant at the Royal Free Hospital himself.

His donor also came from the street market in Lagos and knew the victim in the case.

The defendants denied conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, claiming they believed the victim was acting “altruistically”.

Sonia was cleared of wrongdoing by the jury and watched her parents being sentenced from the public gallery.

She had shed tears back then.

But yesterday, she waved to her parents as they were led out of the court.

Neither of them showed any emotion as they were sentenced.

However, Sonia in an interview with BBC Pidgin yesterday, shortly after the sentencing, said: “It’s sad. It’s been really hard to wrap my head around it.

“I understand the conviction. Personally, I disagree with it; however, that’s from a very biased perspective as their daughter, and I would obviously back my parents.

“However, the law has taken its course, and we just have to now move forward as a family.”

She added: “I don’t think it will ever be the same again. And obviously, I feel guilty because I feel like all these have happened because of me,” she said, while holding back tears.

On her parents after the sentence was passed:“They are quite calm, surprisingly. But I can’t really speak about what they are feeling. This is just from an outside perspective of me seeing them. They are okay, they are just neutral.”

“Life is just some dynamic. Like you’re one day in your house chilling and the next day your whole life is turned around, upside down.”

“My main focus is to try to help, specifically people with kidney conditions. This is just to show them they don’t need to be scared.

“I will continue to support my parents and siblings as well.”

While kidney donation is not illegal in Britain, it is unlawful to do it for financial or material reward.

It was the first time organ harvesting conspiracy charges had been brought under the UK’s 2015 Modern Slavery Act.

The maximum sentence under the legislation is life imprisonment.

Ike Ekweremadu from Amachara Mpu Village in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State represented Enugu West Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) until his arrest last June.

He is a lawyer by profession.

Until his election into the Senate he had served as the pioneer Chairman of Aninri Local Government Council when it was created in 1997. He was appointed Chief of Staff, Enugu State Government House and subsequently Secretary to the Government of Enugu State from 1999 to 2003.

He was first elected into the Senate in 2003.

Multimillion-pound modern slavery on the rise, says Met official

Speaking against the backdrop of the Ekweremadu case yesterday, Met’s modern slavery and child exploitation lead, Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy, warned of a sharp rise in modern slavery.

He said more cases of organ harvesting were under investigation.

Criminal exploitation of adults, according to Furphy, has soared by 30% in the last 12 months.

Sexual exploitation of female victims increased by around 24% and domestic servitude rose by 12% in the same period.

“The trajectory of modern slavery crimes shows very little signs of slowing down,” he said.

He added: “They are making millions and millions and millions a year, every year, most of which is transported to other parts of Europe and further afield.

“It’s in our communities, it’s in the services that we use.

“It’s in the industry that builds road networks, buildings, or houses.

“It’s in the beauty industry.

“It’s in the sex industry.

“My advice is to be vigilant, to report even if it’s just a suspicion that you think something’s not quite right.

“Don’t think a tiny bit of information or intelligence is insignificant, you never know that might just break the back of an organised crime group that are exploiting people.”

It’s a dent on Nigeria’s image – Adamu Garba

Reacting to the development, a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, called it a dent on Nigeria’s image and sovereignty.

“I really don’t like this. I see it as a dent upon the image of our country and its sovereignty,” he said on his Twitter handle.

He added: “A whole former deputy Senate president to serve a jail term in a foreign land? What kind of country are we?

“If Nigeria is serious on this issue, we should immediately summon a UK ambassador to Nigeria, express our displeasure with the situation, minding not the attitude of Senator Ekweremadu but the institution he represents, then, perhaps afterwards, negotiate within our diplomatic basket for what we can give them in order to get him back to Nigeria.”

Some prominent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo had pleaded for leniency for Ekweremadu.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Clerk, the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, last month, the former President asked the Clerk to intervene and ensure the UK government tempered justice with mercy on the matter.

He said: “It is with great pleasure that I write in respect of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who I have known for over two decades. Within this period, I have followed and watched, with keen interest, Ike Ekweremadu’s inspiring career which traversed private legal practice and public administration.

“I recall, with fond memories, the beginnings of our political and social relationship at the outset of our collective quest for democratic rebirth for our fatherland.

“During my administration as a democratically-elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, Ike Ekweremadu and I had close relationship and interactions as staunch members of our political party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and more so as he got elected into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003, of which he has since remained a member till date.”

Obasanjo said while he realised the implications of the action of the Ekweremadus. “I dare say it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.”

However, he pleaded with the Chief Clerk to use his good offices to “intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.”

• Senior lawyers knock cleric for questioning president-elect’s swearing-in
• DHQ: nothing will stop May 29 event

For faulting the expected May 29 inauguration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Catholic Archbishop Emeritus John Cardinal Onaiyekan yesterday got knocks from eminent lawyers and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwarts.

Cardinal Onaiyekan, 80, who spoke on a national television’s Breakfast time programme, described the plan to swear-in the president-elect before election cases are decided by the court as inappropriate.

The Archbishop Emeritus said:  “I am one of those who have been saying that it does not make much sense to swear in people when they are still in court.

 ”I can’t understand; I am not a legal man or judge; it is a pity that it is taking too long for the court to make up their mind on this matter.

“The election is not yet over. There are cases in court that have not been disposed of. That is why we are in an anomalous situation; we have a declared President-elect whose result is being challenged, and the court is handling it.

“I am entitled to take the position that I am still waiting for the court to determine who won the election.”

Tinubu won the February 25 presidential election, defeating Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubabkar and Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, who are both in court along with three other political parties, challenging the outcome of the poll. The pre-hearing of the petitions will start on Monday.

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday reiterated its position that nothing will stop the swearing-in of the president-elect.

Legal giants, immediate past Chairman, Body of Benchers (BoB), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Olalekan Ojo (SAN), Festus Keyamo (SAN) and Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, chided the priest for his position.

The lawyers argued that the suggestion by Cardinal Onaiyekan is a recipe for a logjam, confusion and an illegality.

Olanipekun said: “If you don’t swear in Tinubu on May 29, who do you swear in? President Muhammadu Buhari cannot continue in office after May 29 because it will be illegal and unconstitutional.”

“The constitution is so clear on this. The position of the law is that if an election is conducted, under the constitution, a return is made, that return is deemed to be genuine, to be regular, lawful, legal and constitutional, under the Constitution and Electoral Act.

“Anybody who is not satisfied will go to the tribunal. The constitution says even assuming the tribunal of first instance decides against the returned candidate, that candidate shall be in office until his appeal is finally determined.

“I would not know the jurisprudence they are applying. But the grundnorm of our law is very clear. I don’t know why people are treating Tinubu’s election differently from what has been happening.

“In 1999, Obasanjo was declared the winner of the election. Olu Falae challenged him. The return was not cancelled. Obasanjo was sworn in while the election petition continued until after it was finally decided. It folded up at the Supreme Court.

“In 2003, Buhari challenged Obasanjo, Obasanjo was sworn-in on May 29, 2003. He continued in office until after the determination of the petition.

“In 2007, I was lead counsel to President Umaru Yar’Adua. His election was challenged by Buhari, Atiku and others. He was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He continued in office until all the election petitions were disposed of. Heaven did not fall and people did not say they should not be sworn in.”

Ngige, who also agreed that the cleric was wrong, said: “The view is his opinion. Instead of doing that now, it means you have to hold election, may be one year before the end of tenure. That is the only way it could be possible.

“If the election is held by May 29, 2022, so that if there is any dispute, it would be resolved. But it might look very awkward to conduct election because somebody may not survive in the one year of waiting.

“So, the only solution is for us to clean up our process of holding elections so that it will be litigation-free.

“In 2015 when Buhari won, Jonathan did not go to tribunal and Buhari was sworn in. So, the answer is to hold a free and fair election so that it will be litigation free.”

Ojo said: “It has never been the law that persons who have won elections as President-elect or governor-elect should not be sworn in until any petition against them has been determined. That is not the law.

“It accords with logic and common sense that there must never be a vacuum in governance.

“A person is entitled to enjoy his victory until that victory is set aside.  Even where there is such a judgment (setting aside the victory), there are clear provisions in the Electoral Act that he must remain in office pending when the appeal is determined.

“It is an unnecessary argument that has been settled since 1979 when Chief Obafemi Awolowo challenged Alhaji Shehu Shagari’s presidential election victory up to the Supreme Court. It is not an issue to be debated. It has been settled by law and convention. Tinubu must be sworn in as President on May 29.”

Keyamo, a spokesman of the Tinubu campaign organisation, said in a tweet: “Why all the fuss now? It has always been our electoral template since 1999 for the declared winners to be sworn into office in order to avoid a vacuum and not to foist an unconstitutional contraption on the system whilst the cases are in court.”

“All issues raised against the victory of Tinubu in court now (whether it is 25 per cent votes in FCT(Federal Capital Territory) or the fake drug issue, etc), are not different from issues raised against previous presidents-elect because basically, the complaints have always been that the declared victor did not win the election fair and square or was not qualified to contest the election, 

“No disqualifying issue against a candidate can be greater than other disqualifying issues since a single issue can decide a case against a President-elect,” he added.

The minister advised Onaiyekan to “consider stepping back from the deep and murky waters of politics.”

He said: “The embarrassment to the body of Christ is getting too much and no politician is worth dragging this dignified body into unnecessary political controversy. Is this too much to ask, Daddy?”

Also, Fani-Kayode, said Onaiyekan was trying to stop a moving train by opposing the inauguration of a duly announced President-elect.

He said: “Nobody can stop a moving train. Tinubu’s emergence as president-elect is the doing of the Lord and it is marvellous in our sight’

“To Cardinal John Onaiyekan and those that share his views that the swearing-in of our President-elect should be postponed until after the election tribunal has delivered its judgment, I say the following:

“The Nigerian people have spoken and the deep conspiracy to stop Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from becoming President failed long ago.

“We are well past that stage and you cannot stop a moving train. Whether they like it or not, God-willing, the President-elect shall be sworn in on May 29th.”

The religious leader added that he had high hope that Nigeria would progress from its present state to where it ought to be.

He said: “I am 80, so, I am not going anywhere. I am still dreaming that before I go to paradise, I should see a better Nigeria and I believe it is possible.”

• It’s time to move on, Gambari advises

Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon yesterday urged politicians with cases before election petition tribunals to accept the outcomes in good faith.

Gowon, who insisted that it was only an independent Judiciary that could protect the nation’s democracy, advised that the Judiciary must be allowed to work without external interference.

Also, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, enjoined Nigerians, especially politicians, to set aside their differences on the just-concluded general election and chart a way forward for nation-building.

The two elder statesmen spoke at different fora in Abuja and Calabar, Cross River State.

  Gowon spoke at the 15th edition of Punuka annual lecture in honour of the late Justice Chike Idigbe, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, who died in 1983.  

The Abuja event had as its theme: The life and legacy of Honourable Justice Idigbe: 100 years of a gold standard for judges in Nigeria.”   

Gambari gave his advice while delivering the 35th convocation lecture of the University of Calabar (UNICAL). The topic of the lecture was: “The Leadership and Followership Question in Nigeria: Imperatives of an Ethical Re-Orientation.”.

 At the Punuka annual lecture/symposium, Gowon hailed the  Judiciary for always acting as a stabilising force in many instances when Nigeria confronted challenges. 

He said: “As we move forward as a nation, let us not forget the role that the Judiciary plays in nation-building, especially the apex court, in carrying out its duty of questioning the veracity of the decisions of the lower court.

“As such, we need to allow the Justices of the apex court to engage in their deliberations and come up with their decisions, and as the public, to be humble enough to accept their decision as final, in order to maintain the sanctity of the Judiciary as individuals and as an institution.

“I think this is very important at this stage in view of the post-election litigations that are now going on. Let us give the Judiciary the opportunity to do their work and let us accept their decision as it is.”

On the contribution of the Judiciary to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy and unity, the former Head of State added: “As a nation, we have come a long way since our independence in 1960, and we have faced many challenges along the way to put it moderately.

“It is no secret that the Judiciary plays a vital role in nation-building and in keeping us united as a nation. The judiciary, in essence, is the guardian of the Constitution and the rule of law.

“The Judiciary provides a check on the powers of the Executive and legislative branches and ensures that the rights and freedoms of the citizens are protected through the instrumentality of the court.

“As a former military leader (Head of State), I have seen and known firsthand the importance of the Judiciary in maintaining stability and order in our society.

“The Judiciary serves as the bedrock of our democracy, and it is only through a strong, independent and impartial judiciary that we can ensure the protection of our democracy and the advancement of our nation.

“The Judiciary has over time maintained their enviable status as the beacon of hope for our democracy, serving as the balance between every class and truly the hope of the common man.”

While hailing the late jurist, Gowon noted that Justice Idigbe’s “unwavering commitment to upholding justice and the rule of law is a testament to his unflinching character and his belief in our nation evinced through his life and office.

“Justice Idigbe’s life and works, off and on the Bench exemplify the ideals of integrity courage and service.

“His unwavering dedication to justice and fairness has been a source of inspiration to many and his legacy will continue to live for generations to come.

“Judges, like Justice Chukwuwike Idigbe, are the unsung heroes of our democracy and their work is essential for the growth and development of our society.”

Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola (SAN); Vice- Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, also spoke glowingly about the late jurist.

Fashola, while analysing some judgments by Justice Idigbe, said he was a thorough and hardworking jurist.

The ex-Governor of Lagos State cautioned against unnecessary criticism of the nation’s courts, noting that they can only dispense justice according to the law.

He advised litigants and lawyers to always ensure that they present their cases and evidence in the required format way to enable the courts to do justice as required by the law.

Awomolo hailed the late jurist for his many indelible contributions to the development of the nation’s justice system.

He added: “Hon. Justice Chike Idigbe was a man with a divine touch of the highest God. The scripture testifies to his path in life.

“Here was a man, an accomplished jurist who for no faults of his, was removed from office as a Judicial officer. He took it in his strides.

“He moved on and found his feet in the valley of life and, from the valley, he was taken to the mountaintops and made a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Reading through some of his decisions, he came across as one who deliberately lived a life of absolute integrity, honesty, humility and kindness and today his children and grandchildren celebrate and think of him as their role model,” Awomolo said.

Agba, who commended those behind the initiative, said the event was “a worthy addition to remind us of the evergreen legacies of this great patriot and nationalist whose knowledge and application of the law have helped to promote and entrench progressive legal culture in Nigeria.”

The deceased’s son and Senior Partner in the law firm founded in 1947, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), noted that his father’s jurisprudence is still very relevant today.

Chief Idigbe added: “He had a focus on substantive justice and he established in many cases that form should never override substance. Those principles should guide the action of our judges today.

“Some argue that there is no more adherence to judicial precedent, that it is dangerous for the system because that is what makes law science and the Judicial system strong.

“Knowing when to depart from precedent becomes quite significant to prevent abuse, and there is a lot of guidance from some of Justice Idigbe’s cases.”

Chief Idigbe called for holistic judicial reforms, adding that the same attention given to election petitions should be extended to commercial cases, as they are all critical to the nation’s survival. 

In Calabar, Gambari in his lecture, said since the winners of the 2023 general election had been announced, Nigerians should join hands in building a better country.

He said: “Our journey of nationhood and statehood began in earnest at independence in 1960 amidst high hopes that, as the biggest concentration of people of African descent, we had a manifest destiny to lead Global Africa on its journey of rebirth and transformation.

“Our hopes were bolstered by a number of other factors that were at play. These included the rich resource endowments with which we were and are still blessed, and the giants of political leaders who worked to usher the country to independence.

“These political leaders were remarkable as much for their vision and commitment to national development and progress as for the integrity and sense of responsibility with which they conducted public affairs.

“The high hopes that led to independence and early post-colonial years gradually began to wane amidst rising acrimony, dissension and discord among the leaders of the First Republic.”

He noted that at a time Nigeria was locked into a cycle of ethnic-regional recriminations, inter-religious suspicions and generalised instability.

“I have never by any stretch of the imagination subscribed to the pessimistic school of commentators who exaggerate the problems of our country and downplay its successes as a vocation.

“However, few are the Nigerians who will fail to acknowledge that from a promising start, we have lived through a prolonged season where the country has, overall, not been able to live up to the promise of its founding ideals.

“It is partly in recognition of the underperformance that came to characterise governance and development in Nigeria that such developments as military incursions into the governance arena began to be witnessed, those interventions being presented as necessary “corrective” actions.

“Ironically, those interventions became part and parcel of a spiral of instability that only ended in 1999 with the birth of the Nigerian Fourth Republic.

“While it lasted as a norm in the administration of national affairs, the military in government experimented with various social engineering initiatives designed, among others, to curb corruption in high public office, wastefulness and indolence among government officials, and loss of the national moral compass,” he added.

Suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari, who is under police probe, has been granted bail.

Also allowed to go home are two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioners and other officials undergoing interrogation at the Police Headquarters in connection with Adamawa Governorship Election fiasco.

Their release on administrative bail, is with conditions.

•They must deposit their travel passports; and

•Their movement is restricted within the Federal Capital Territory

It was learnt that a senator stood surety for Yunusa-Ari after he was interrogated for three days while in custody of the police.

Inspector-General of Police Alkali Baba also personally interrogated the REC, the national commissioners and the others.

With the IG during the session, it was learnt were Deputy Inspectors-General. Yunusa-Ari, according to sources exchanged words with the INEC commissioners over the claim that he fled and was incommunicado. 

The session dwelt on allegations of bribing during the Aril 15 Supplementary election after which REC declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Ayisetu Dahiru Binani as governor-elect, which collation of results was going on in usurpation of the Returning Officer’s role. 

It was gathered that the police restricted the suspects’ movement to enable them invite all the officials at short notice when needed. 

A top source said: “Our investigators have interacted with the REC, some INEC National Commissioners and other officials undergoing interrogation. We have asked the affected officials to submit their traveling documents. 

“The REC promised to drop his passport at the Force Headquarters yesterday.

“ And if it is necessary to arraign any of the officials after the conclusion of the ongoing investigation, it will be easier.” 

The source added that: “In line with the law and international best practices, the police have granted bail to the REC, the National Commissioners and all officials under investigation. They have been released accordingly. 

“The bail surety for the REC is a Senator.

“But all those quizzed got an advisory to limit their media visibility for unfettered investigation.”

The source said placing the REC and others on bail will not prejudice the probe. 

The source added: “With the involvement of the IGP and his management team, you can determine the commitment attached to this case. Granting bail will not hamper investigation. 

“There were allegations and counter-allegations on nocturnal meetings, choice dinner and bribery scandal during the elections. 

“Detectives will look into this dimension of influence peddling and bribery. The scope of investigation will be widened. “

All those summoned were grilled by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team unit of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB). 

The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday said: ”The Inspector-General of Police has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution.

“The Inspector-General of Police has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensuring that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice.” 

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) joined those pleading for former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice.

It appealed to the Government of the United Kingdom for leniency in the sentencing of the duo, alongside their doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta.

The trio were found guilty by Justice Jeremy Johnson Central Criminal Court Old Bailey, London, and convicted in March under the Modern Slavery Act of the United Kingdom.

Ekweremadu, his wife and Obeta would know their fate today when they face the jury for sentencing.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the two chambers of the National Assembly and the ECOWAS parliament have asked the UK Government and Parliament to plead with the court to temper justice with mercy.

IHRC’s Ambassador at Large and Head of Diplomatic Mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E. Ambassador Duru Hezekiah made his plea at his Office in Abuja while addressing newsmen.

He described Ekweremadu as a patriotic Nigerian, who has served the Nigerian Senate three consecutive times since 2003.

The IHRC boss reiterated that understanding the Modern Slavery Act of the UK 2015, an Act to make provisions about slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labor and human trafficking, including provision for the protection of victims; to make provision for an Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner; and for connected purposes, the Nigeria former Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu, 60, his wife, Beatrice, 56, and Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain to exploit his organ for his daughter Sonia following her diagnosis which indicated that she required a kidney transplant.

He ascribed that the senator acted on the purview of parental instincts to save his daughter and not for commercial purposes, as well, maybe ignorance of the law of the United Kingdom, adding that a Distinguished Personality and lawmaker of that repute wouldn’t involve himself in the such abominable act.

Duru said: “In conveying this Clemency, satisfactory evidence having been exhibited to me, the Head of Diplomatic Mission to the International Human Rights Commission in Nigeria, shows that Ike Ekweremadu is a law-abiding citizen of Nigeria.

“An honest man, who has served his country and ECOWAS Parliament in various capacities as Deputy Speaker/Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, and has contributed positively to humanitarian aid and the development of politics in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Continent.

“Although the Nigerian Senate, House of Representatives, and ECOWAS Parliament have appealed for your leniency in the sentencing of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, alongside his wife Beatrice and Dr. Obinna Obeta, paramountly due to the trust and confidence in the Integrity and Fidelity of Sen. Ike Ekweremadu who has great respect for international laws and treaties”.

“However as a transnational intergovernmental organisation with an unrepentant approach against Human Trafficking, I avail myself this opportunity to express to you alongside Patriots in the world, our sincere appeal for your leniency in the foregoing testimony as stated therefore.”

“Permit me also, to make reference to the Holy Bible; Grace and Mercy are only available to the unqualified and the condemned, meaning that a man can still be set free even when he has broken the law.

“The law will always condemn the best in us but Grace saves the worst in us. I therefore pray that you treat him and others with Love, Mercy and Grace who I believe will in turn empower them to sin no more.

“I wish to express the hope that you will lend us your valuable cooperation and be rest assured that it shall be in my constant endeavor to maintain the trust and confidence of our relationships.”