Ekweremadu: Ebonyi govt reaches out to family of kidney donor

NIS boss insists due process followed in Nwanini’s passport issuance

THE Ebonyi State government said it is reaching out to the family of the individual contacted by Senator Ike Ekweremadu ( PDPEnugu West) to donate his kidney to the Senator’s ailing daughter. The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Uchenna Orji, made the disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday in Abakaliki.

Orji said the state government was reaching out to David Ukpo Nwanini’s family, the touted donor who is from the state.

“David’s information to the metropolitan police of the United Kingdom orchestrated the criminal charge incidented against Ekweremadu and his wife. The state is following the turn of events and twists, which followed the medical intention of the former Deputy Senate President, over the health condition of his daughter, Sonia.

“These circumstances led to the detention of the Senator and his wife in UK. We urge the UK government to act progressively and meticulously while critically looking at the intention of the detained family.

“The Ebonyi goverment urges that they be given the benefit of the doubt.

We also enjoin the public especially those with shades of opinions and surge of anxieties, to remain calm.” M EANWHILE, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service ( NIS), Isah Jere, has said due process was followed in the issuance of Nwanini’s passport. His reaction came after the controversy the issue generated over claims by the UK authorities that Nwanini is 15- year- old, hence a minor, but entered the country with a passport claiming he is 21- year- old.

In a communique, Jere said the notion making the rounds that the NIS did not properly vet the documents issued by the applicant during his passport application are not only off the mark, but mere fabrications aimed at tarnishing the image of the service.

He said Nwamina applied and paid for the enhanced standard passport using the NIS portal after which he approached the Gwagwalada passport office in Abuja, on November 2, 2021 for his interview.

The CG said the applicant equally presented all the necessary documents required, including his National Population Commission, ( NPC) issued birth certificate, showing 12 October, 2000, as his date of birth; his National Identity Number ( NIN) corroborating the date of birth on his birth certificate, issued by NIMC and a letter of introduction issued by Ebonyi State government liaison office situated at Maitama District Abuja, and a Guarantor’s form duly signed by one Mr. Uchechukwu Chukwuma Ogbonno to support his application.