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Organ Trafficking: Why UK court convicts Ike Ekweremadu, wife, medical doctor -Prosecutor

Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, Ex-Nigerian Deputy Senate President, and Wife, Beatrice

*British Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC told the Jury that the three accused persons entered an ’emotionally cold commercial transaction’ with the 21-old-Nigerian man to exploit him in London, and that their behaviour indicated ‘entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy’

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Following a six-week trial at the Old Bailey, a London court gas convicted Dr. Ike Ekweremadu, a former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, his wife Beatrice, and Dr. Obinna Obeta, their medical doctor of organ trafficking in Britain.

It was gathered the conviction presupposes the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act.

Ekweremadu, 60; his wife, Beatrice, 56; and Dr. Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to exploiting the young man.

The court, however, cleared Sonia, the Federal lawmaker’s daughter.

In their ruling, the Jury said Ekweremadu, his wife, and their doctor criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney, agency report said.

Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC told the court the Ekweremadus and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward”. Davies said the accused persons entered an “emotionally cold commercial transaction” with the Nigerian man.

The prosecutor also informed the Jury that Ekweremadus’ behaviour indicated “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy”.

According to him, Dr. Ekweremadu, who owns several properties and has 80 staff, “agreed to reward someone for a kidney for his daughter – somebody in circumstances of poverty, and from whom he distanced himself and made no inquiries, and with whom, for his own political protection, he wanted no direct contact.”

Davies added, “What he agreed to do was not simply expedient in the clinical interests of his daughter, Sonia, it was exploitation, it was criminal.”

The prosecutor further argued: “It is no defence to say he acted out of love for his daughter.

“Her clinical needs cannot come at the expense of the exploitation of somebody in poverty.”

Ekweremadu denies the charge

Report indicates Ekweremadu, who denied the charge, told the court he was the victim of a scam.

Obeta, who also denied the charge, claimed the man was not offered a reward for his kidney and was acting altruistically. Beatrice as well denied any knowledge of the alleged conspiracy, but Sonia did not give evidence.

The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson, will pass sentence at a later date, report stated.

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