Organ harvesting: Obasanjo appeals for clemency for Senator Ekweremadu

By Bukola Hameed

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked for clemency from the Central Criminal Court in London for Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice.

Senator Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice were found guilty of organ trafficking in the United Kingdom.

The Court found the couple and their doctor, Obinna Obeta, guilty of conspiring to exploit a young man (David Nwamini), who he facilitated his movement to Britain, for his kidney.

In a letter dated April 3 and addressed to the Chief Clerk of the court, Obasanjo appealed to the court to consider the relationship between Nigeria and the UK as well as the health of the senator and his 25-year-old daughter, Sonia.

The letter also described Ekweremadu as “God-fearing, dispassionate, moderate and pan-Nigerian,” and someone who has continued to play visible roles in national development.

‘’You will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of 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’’, the letter reads in part.

The former President expressed the belief that the Ekweremadus have learnt from this distressing experience to guide their future actions or inactions and continue to be outstanding members of the community.

In June 2022, the UK Metropolitan Police arrested Senator Ekweremadu and his wife for allegedly conspiring to arrange the travel of a child into the UK in order to harvest his organs.