Organ harvesting: Court grants bail to Ekweremadu's wife
Please share this story:
A London court has granted Beatrice, wife of former Senate Deputy Speaker Ike Ekweremadu, bail.
While she was released on bail, her husband, who is the legislator representing the senatorial district of Enugu West, was denied bail.
Ike, a lawyer and former Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian Senate, and Beatrice, an accountant, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday for a bail hearing.
The PUNCH had reported that Ekweremadu had been charged by the UK Metropolitan Police with conspiring to facilitate another person's journey for the removal of organs.
It is alleged that Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, 55, brought the 21-year-old from Nigeria to the UK.
Prosecutors say they planned to have her kidney removed so it could be donated to their daughter.
“The position is that I granted bail to Beatrice under certain fairly strict conditions, but I refused bail to Ike,” Daily Mail quoted the Common Sergeant of London, Justice Richard Marks, to have ruled.
Prosecutors are not appealing the decision, the court heard.
Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood previously said the case involved "organ exploitation and harvesting."
"The case began on May 5, 2022 when the complainant reported to Staines Police Station and claimed he had been flown to that country for the purpose of having a kidney removed.
"He arrived on February 20, 2022 and was taken to the Royal Free Hospital where tests were carried out.
"For the purpose for which he was there, he did not consent to the removal of his kidney.
"He returned to the house where he lived and his treatment changed dramatically.
"He described being effectively treated as a slave."
The PUCNH reports that a UK-based doctor has been accused of colluding with Ekweremadu, and his wife, of trafficking a homeless man in the UK to swab his kidney for their daughter.
The doctor, Obinna Obeta, 50, from Southwark, south London, is charged under the Modern Slavery Act.
Obeta, who appeared at Bexley Magistrates' Court on July 13, is accused of arranging the trip of 21-year-old Davi Ukpo from Nigeria to the UK.
He is also accused of conspiring with lawmakers to arrange or facilitate the man's journey for exploitation through organ harvesting.
Please share this story:
A London court has granted Beatrice, wife of former Senate Deputy Speaker Ike Ekweremadu, bail.
While she was released on bail, her husband, who is the legislator representing the senatorial district of Enugu West, was denied bail.
Ike, a lawyer and former Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian Senate, and Beatrice, an accountant, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday for a bail hearing.
The PUNCH had reported that Ekweremadu had been charged by the UK Metropolitan Police with conspiring to facilitate another person's journey for the removal of organs.
It is alleged that Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, 55, brought the 21-year-old from Nigeria to the UK.
Prosecutors say they planned to have her kidney removed so it could be donated to their daughter.
“The position is that I granted bail to Beatrice under certain fairly strict conditions, but I refused bail to Ike,” Daily Mail quoted the Common Sergeant of London, Justice Richard Marks, to have ruled.
Prosecutors are not appealing the decision, the court heard.
Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood previously said the case involved "organ exploitation and harvesting."
"The case began on May 5, 2022 when the complainant reported to Staines Police Station and claimed he had been flown to that country for the purpose of having a kidney removed.
"He arrived on February 20, 2022 and was taken to the Royal Free Hospital where tests were carried out.
"For the purpose for which he was there, he did not consent to the removal of his kidney.
"He returned to the house where he lived and his treatment changed dramatically.
"He described being effectively treated as a slave."
The PUCNH reports that a UK-based doctor has been accused of colluding with Ekweremadu, and his wife, of trafficking a homeless man in the UK to swab his kidney for their daughter.
The doctor, Obinna Obeta, 50, from Southwark, south London, is charged under the Modern Slavery Act.
Obeta, who appeared at Bexley Magistrates' Court on July 13, is accused of arranging the trip of 21-year-old Davi Ukpo from Nigeria to the UK.
He is also accused of conspiring with lawmakers to arrange or facilitate the man's journey for exploitation through organ harvesting.
What's Your Reaction?
