Obasanjo writes UK court asking it to temper justice with mercy when sentencing Ekweremadu

FORMER president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has written to the chief clerk of the Central Criminal Court in London to temper justice with mercy over the recent conviction of ex-deputy senate president Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Senator Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arrested by London's Metropolitan Police in June 2022 on suspicion of child trafficking and planned organ harvesting. They were charged before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

London-based medical doctor Obinna Obeta, was charged along with the Ekweremadus with helping to facilitate the travel of Lagos street trader David Ukpo Nwamini to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his kidney. Testifying in court, Mr Nwamini, 21, accused Senator Ekweremadu of trying to harvest his kidney.

In a landmark ruling at the Old Bailey in March 23, Senator Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice and Dr Obeta, were found guilty. A jury found that they conspired to bring a victim to London to exploit him for his kidney for their daughter, Sonia, aged 25, although she was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Testifying in court, Mr Nwamini, 21, accused Senator Ekweremadu of trying to harvest his kidney. He told a British court that after he was told his kidney was not compatible, he fled to a police station and begged police officers to save his life.

Senator Ekweremadu is due to be sentenced on May 5 but interceding on his behalf, Chief Obasanjo has written to the court pleading for clemency. Dated April 3, 2023, his letter said even though Ekweremadu’s action was condemnable and unacceptable, he has contributed his quota to the socio-political development of Nigeria, adding that his punishment should consider his past records of good deeds and the plight of his ailing daughter.

It read: “Mr Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from them being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.

“However, it is my fervent desire for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his position as one of the distinguished senators in the Nigerian parliament and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your 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. Let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instincts and care into consideration.

“I do hope Mr and Mrs Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.”