Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president and his wife Beatrice on Tuesday appeared in a London court ahead of their trial for alleged organ harvesting.
Protesters gathered in front of the court before the proceedings commenced, some supporting the lawmaker while others were against him.
Some Nigerians are still in shock at the turnout of events regarding the former deputy senate president of Nigeria. What is on the lips of some Nigerians is how a Nigerian lawmaker was involved in an alleged Organ trafficking offence.
The scandal has elicited reactions from different individuals, politicians and interest groups.
While some say “Nigeria is filled with corrupt politicians, others are standing with him, saying he is innocent until proven guilty by the law.
What transpired
The couple was arrested on June 23 2022, by the Metropolitan police on allegations of trafficking a 21-year-old for organ harvesting.
They were accused of plotting to traffic 21-year-old David Ukpo from Nigeria to the United Kingdom to transplant his organs to their daughter, who is suffering from kidney failure.
While Senator Ike was charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting, Beatrice was charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, between August 1 last year and May 5, under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
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The alleged victim claimed he was 15 and was brought to donate his kidney without his consent.
However, records provided by the NIMC proved that the boy was 21 years old and not the 15 years he had claimed.
In its ruling, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court held that the alleged victim was not a minor.
Beatrice was later granted bail by a London court, while Senator Ike was denied bail and remained in custody. In a pre-trial hearing in December, the court again denied Mr Ekweremadu bail on grounds that he was a flight risk and would flee the country.