By Gideon Njoku
The victim of the human organ trafficking for which former Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Dr Beatrice Ekweremadu were jailed by a London Court on Friday, 5th March, 2023, says there is no way he would go back to Nigeria because he fears for his life. He also said he feared for the life of members of his family because those who dealt with him are powerful people.
He was not present in Court, and was not named because victims of modern slavery are strictly protected.
But in a statement he made which was read in Court, the victim said he feared for his life and will not go back to Nigeria because of his fears. He revealed that his Father came under tremendous pressure to force him, the victim, to drop the case against the Ekweremadus and Dr Obinna Obeta, the 51 year old London-based, Nigerian-born doctor who was the go-between for the Ekweremadus and the victim.
“I can’t think about going home to Nigeria. These people are extremely powerful and I’m worried for my safety.”
He, also refused to accept any compensation from the Ekweremadus insisting that receiving any money from them would be a curse.
He submitted: “receiving anything from the bad people would be cursed.”
Hugh Davies KC, the Prosecutor, said that the Ekweremadus exploited the victims poor background and vulnerability to perpetuate the crime. “Kidney donation for reward is a substantial, internationally prohibited commercial industry that exploits economically vulnerable individuals.”
Senator Ekweremadu, he said, knew all that because as the Deputy Senate President, “he played a significant role in the 2014 legislation that prohibited the very activity he then engaged in. This legislation was specifically directed at protecting economically vulnerable people in Nigeria, from exploitation by those such as him with power and wealth.”
Painting Senator Ekweremadu as insensitive to the after-care of the victim, had the transplant taken place, Davies said of the former Deputy Senate President:
“He was an active and essential part of this conspiracy. He knew and approved a high degree of economic and physical control that was used against the victim throughout. He was totally indifferent to after-care for the victim.”
The Metropolitan Police’s Modern Slavery Team was full of praises for the victim. One member of the team, DI Esther Richardson said of him:
“He showed tremendous courage to come forward to give evidence against powerful people. He is innocent and naive. Having never been on a flight, he was petrified the plane would fall from the sky. When he fled Obeta’s flat, he slept on the streets fearing that snakes might bite him.
“Our victim was treated as a commodity and this was a transactional process just like any drugs or firearms deal. Had this been successful, the victim would have had long-term medical implications and may even have had the requirement for dialysis.
“The welfare and wellbeing of the victim was of little consequence to Sonia getting a kidney. The sentences send a message globally that no matter your power and entitlements, you are not above the law and that we listen to victims and safeguard them.”
The Ekweremadus were arrested at the London Heathrow Airport in June 2022 for transporting the victim to London, in connivance with Dr Obeta for the sole purpose of harvesting his kidney for the benefit of Sonia, 25, their daughter, who is suffering from a serious kidney disease that has condemned him to dialysis, three times a week.
Senator Ekweremadu was sentenced to a- 10 year jail term, his wife, Beatrice got six years, while Dr. Obeta got a sentence of ten years.
