Amanze Chinonye
The United Kingdom has turned down a request by the Nigerian government to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to Nigeria to complete his prison sentence for organ-trafficking offences.
Ekweremadu, convicted in 2023 alongside his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, is serving nine years and eight months in a UK prison for conspiring to exploit a young Nigerian man for his kidney.
The case, which British prosecutors described as a clear instance of treating a human being “as a commodity,” remains the first organ-trafficking conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to verified sources, the UK Ministry of Justice rejected the transfer request on the grounds that Nigeria could not guarantee the same custodial conditions or assurance that Ekweremadu would serve the full sentence under equivalent legal standards.
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The decision followed a formal approach by the Federal Government, which had dispatched a high-level delegation to London to negotiate the transfer.
The Nigerian delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi, met UK officials earlier this month to push for Ekweremadu’s relocation under existing international prisoner-transfer frameworks. The appeal was unsuccessful.
While Beatrice Ekweremadu who received a four-and-a-half-year sentence has since returned to Nigeria after completing the custodial portion of her term, her husband remains detained in the UK.
The decision has triggered mixed reactions within Nigeria, particularly in the South-East, where political and community leaders are divided on whether Ekweremadu should have been transferred.
Reports indicate that some leaders argued that allowing the former Senator to serve his time in Nigeria would demonstrate goodwill, while others maintained that he must complete the sentence under the jurisdiction where the crime was tried.
The UK’s refusal underscores its tough stance on organ-trafficking offences and its insistence that justice must be served in full for crimes classified under modern slavery laws.
Nigeria has not yet outlined the next steps following the rejection, but diplomatic sources suggest the government may continue consultations or explore alternative legal options within the UK’s prisoner-transfer system.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
