Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, in London, regarding the recent conviction of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, for organ trafficking.
The couple face the risk of a 10-year prison sentence in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 of the United Kingdom, following the guilty verdicts pronounced by Mr Justice Johnson. They have been remanded in custody and are due to be sentenced on May 5.
In his letter, dated April 3, 2023, Obasanjo requested that the Clerk intervene and ensure that the UK government shows clemency towards the Ekweremadus.
He acknowledged the seriousness of their actions, which involved conspiring to arrange the travel of a young man from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter.
However, he urged the court and the UK government to take into account the couple’s good character and parental instincts, and to be merciful in their sentencing.
Obasanjo expressed his desire for warm relations between the UK and Nigeria, and highlighted Ike Ekweremadu‘s position as a distinguished member of the Nigerian Parliament. He also emphasized the urgent medical attention required by their daughter, whose current health condition is in danger.
The former president concluded by expressing his hope that the Ekweremadus have learnt from this experience and that they will continue to be outstanding members of their community, contributing fully to the good of society and the nation in general.
“I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilised society.
“However, it is my fervent desire for very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.
“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide
their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.” he wrote.