Organ Trafficking: UK Rejects Nigeria’s Request To Transfer Ekweremadu

The United Kingdom has rejected the Federal Government’s request to transfer former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to Nigeria to complete his nine-year, eight-month jail sentence for organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu was convicted in the UK for conspiring to exploit a young man for his kidney, becoming the first Nigerian public official to be sentenced under Britain’s modern slavery laws.

Earlier in the month, President Bola Tinubu had sent a high-powered delegation to the UK to discuss the former lawmaker’s case with British authorities.

The delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

The officials met with senior personnel at the UK Ministry of Justice in London before later being received by Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu.

According to sources, the engagement was part of Tinubu’s efforts to secure either an early release or a review of Ekweremadu’s sentence on legal and humanitarian grounds.

However, the UK Guardian reported on Monday that the British government rejected Nigeria’s request after assessing the circumstances.

The paper quoted a Ministry of Justice source as saying Britain had concerns about Nigeria’s ability to ensure that Ekweremadu would continue to serve his sentence if transferred.

“It is understood the UK government was concerned that Nigeria could offer no guarantees that Ekweremadu would continue his prison sentence after being deported,” the report stated.

A government spokesperson, responding broadly, said they could not comment on individual cases but stressed that transfers are strictly discretionary.

“Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice,” the spokesperson said.

Another source within the UK government reiterated the country’s firm stance on modern slavery crimes.

“The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law,” the source said.

Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, who was sentenced to four years and six months (with half to be spent in custody), was released earlier this year and has since returned to Nigeria.

As of the time of filing this report, the UK authorities have not issued an official public statement beyond commenting anonymously to the media.

Nigeria, on its part, has yet to indicate whether it will make further diplomatic efforts regarding the former Deputy Senate President.