Ekweremadu: Prosecutor insists ‘organ donor’ is 15, trial may be moved to Nigeria
Prosecutors in the trial of Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President, are insisting that Ukpo David, the alleged kidney donor, is 15 years old.
The Nigeria Immigration Service had said the birth certificate and National Identity Number (NIN) slip presented by Ukpo during passport registration showed that he was 21 years old.
But the prosecutor told the court yesterday that the victim was allegedly picked up off the street in Lagos by a criminal gang with the intention of organ harvesting in UK.
According to Channels Television, during the proceedings yesterday, Ekweremadu was in the dock where he confirmed his name and date of birth.
The prosecutor had reportedly insisted that the “donor” was a 15-year-old boy and bail could not be granted to Ekweremadu because he was a flight risk.
The case was again adjourned to July 7 and transferred to the Westminster Magistrate Court to allow Suella Braverman, UK Attorney-General, to determine whether the case could be tried in Nigeria or UK.
A delegation from the Nigerian High Commission in UK was said to be present in the court alongside Ekweremadu’s children.
On Wednesday, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the Federal Government had hired lawyers to defend Ekweremadu.
He added that members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs would be traveling to the UK soon.
Ekweremadu’s travail began when he tried to get a kidney donor for his sick daughter.
He and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested last week over alleged trafficking and attempt to harvest the organs of an “underage”.