A London’s Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey on Friday convicted the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, after finding them guilty of planning to harvest a man’s kidney for their sick daughter, Sonia.
While the former deputy Senate President bagged nine years and eight months imprisonment his wife was jailed for four years, six months.
Also, a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, who aided them got a 10-year sentence for the same offence.
It would be recalled that Ekweremadu, Beatrice and Obeta were convicted of conspiracy to arrange the travel of a young Nigerian man, David Nwamini, to Britain in order to exploit him for his kidney.
During the court trial, the prosecutor, Hugh Davies, told the jury that the behaviour of Ekweremadu showed “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy.”
Kayode Ajulo
Meanwhile, a legal practitione, Kayode Ajulo, has said the new British monarch, King Charles III, may pardon the convicted Ekweremadus, during his coronation ceremony holding tomorrow (Saturday).
Ajulo, who spoke in an interview on Channels Television on Friday, said: “There must be a way out. King Charles’ coronation is an opportunity for a pardon request. There is a thin line between organ harvesting and donation. The UK Modern Slavery Act rarely weighs the intent of the action.
“Now that Ekweremadus have been sentenced, this is the time to do that (ask for pardon). Tomorrow King Charles III will be coronated as the King of England, as the Head of State.
“There is what is called royal prerogative for pardon, I believe anybody that wants to write a letter, anybody that wants to make a plea for Ekweremadus, this is the best time to ask the sovereignty of the United Kingdom; that is His Majesty King Charles III to pardon Ekweremadus.
“The precedent has been there since as far back as 1717, King George did the same. In 2003 and even as close as 2021, the same thing happened. Sovereign can do that and I believe that is the plea we need to do for Ekweremadus, not to be writing and interfering with the conduct of the court.”
