The United Kingdom has turned down Nigeria’s request to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his sentence for organ trafficking. This was confirmed by UK Ministry of Justice sources quoted by The Guardian (UK).
Ekweremadu is serving a nine-year, eight-month sentence after being convicted in 2023 for conspiring with his wife, Beatrice, and medical practitioner, Dr. Obinna Obeta, to traffic a young man to London for a kidney transplant for their daughter. The case became the UK’s first organ-trafficking conviction under the Modern Slavery Act.
A Nigerian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar had met UK officials last week seeking Ekweremadu’s transfer on humanitarian grounds. However, the UK rejected the request over concerns that Nigeria could not guarantee continued imprisonment after his return.
UK officials reiterated their resolve to uphold justice in modern-slavery cases, describing the offence as a “despicable trade.” Meanwhile, critics in Nigeria questioned why such efforts were not extended to over 230 Nigerians currently imprisoned in the UK.
Talks reportedly continue as Nigerian authorities explore prisoner-exchange options and a possible sentence review, though British officials insist transfers remain discretionary.
