Fmr DSP, Ekweremadu To Continue Prison Term In UK, As Nigeria’s Request Fails

By Ayodele Oni

Nigeria’s request from the United Kingdom (UK) to transfer Ike Ekweremadu, a former Deputy Senate President, to complete his prison term in the country has suffered a setback.

The UK Government has rejected the Federal Government ’s request, citing lack of trust on the part of Nigeria government.

Ekweremadu is currently serving a prison sentence in the UK for organ trafficking.

He was convicted in March 2023 and sentenced to nine years and eight months for conspiring to exploit a young man’s kidney.

In November, President Bola Tinubu sent a high-level delegation to London to discuss Ekweremadu’s case and explore the possibility of him serving the remainder of his prison term in Nigeria.

The delegation comprises Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, and Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

However, the UK Guardian, quoting an unnamed official of ministry of justice (MoJ), reported that the Nigerian Government’s request was rejected.

“A source at the MoJ has confirmed the request was rejected.

“It is understood the UK government was concerned that Nigeria could offer no guarantees that Ekweremadu would continue his prison sentence after being deported.

“Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice.

“The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law,” the UK Guardian quoted the official as saying.