By Adesina Soyooye
A former Minister for Aviation, Mr Osita Chidoka, has made a serious allegation against the authorities of the United Kingdom.
Chidoka alleged on Thursday, that the UK has inexplicably, refused to allow Sonia, 25 year old daughter of former Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, to have a kidney transplant in London.
Sonia suffers from a rare kind of kidney disease for which she undergoes dialysis three times in a week. She lives in London.
An attempt by her parents, Dr Ike and Dr Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu, to get her a donor landed them in trouble for which they, Sonia and a Dr Obinna Obeta are being prosecuted in that country for alleged paying and sponsoring a 21- year old trader from Nigeria to the United Kingdom, for the sole purpose of harvesting one of his kidneys to take care of Sonia’s ill-health. They alleged that the young man was unaware of the arrangement, was promised about seven thousand British Pounds, a chance to live in the UK, and had been passed off as Sonia’s cousin. The Ekweremadus and Dr Obeta deny the allegations.
Senator Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in June 2022, at the Heathrow Airport, London, over the allegations. They were thrown into jail, and hauled before a Magistrate Court on Criminal charges.
While Mrs Ekweremadu was granted bail about two months later, the Court refused to grant bail to Ekweremadu and Dr Obeta. They describe Ekweremadu as a flight risk inspite of written, oral and evidential assurances, even from the Nigerian High Commission in London.
Sonia was not detained, but is facing trial.
But on Thursday, 9th February, 2023, Chidoka raised an alarm that even though there are a number of willing kidney donors to Sonia, Britain has denied her the right to have the transplant. He wondered why, and called upon the Nigerian Government to intervene in order to save the life of the young lady.
He slammed the UK Government for disallowing Sonia a chance to live.
Chidoka: “On Monday, I was at the London Criminal court to observe the trial of Ike, Beatrice, and Sonia Ekweremadu.
Some weeks before, I had visited him at Wandsworth Prison. He was in good spirits. Ike is a family friend, a close ally, and an associate. My prayers, thoughts, and good wishes are with them at this time.
“We have known each other for the past 30 years when he was a grad student and part-time lecturer at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus. His subsequent rise from Local Government Chairman to Deputy Senate President is a story for another day.
“What I find distressing is the refusal of the UK authorities to allow Sonia to get a kidney transplant despite a deluge of donors. I think the Nigerian government and we the citizens must call on the UK authorities to allow her to get a kidney transplant in furtherance of her fundamental right to life.
“No matter the outcome of the case, Sonia deserves a chance to live.”
“I appeal to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to please intervene in this serious issue of a possible violation of her right to life by the UK government.
“An intervention will save Sonia’s life and will be in line with global examples of countries intervening on behalf of their citizens.
“I am impressed the Nigerian High Commission has been, and still is present as an observer at the trial.
“As for the current travails of the Ekweremadu family, I can only say: this too, shall pass.”
The criminal trial continues.
