The Federal Government has begun diplomatic efforts to facilitate the transfer of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is serving a nine-year prison term in the United Kingdom for organ harvesting.
A high-level delegation from Nigeria met with British authorities on Monday in London to discuss the matter. The team included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
After the meeting with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice, the delegation visited the Nigerian High Commission in London, where they were received by Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner to the UK.
Reliable sources told Daily Trust that the talks are part of President Bola Tinubu’s diplomatic push to secure Ekweremadu’s early release or a possible review of his sentence on humanitarian and legal grounds.
According to officials familiar with the development, the Federal Government is considering several options, including a prisoner-transfer agreement, compassionate parole, or any other relief permitted under UK law.
“We are working on an appeal for a prisoner exchange for him to serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria,” a top Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said.
“Consultations are still ongoing with the UK authorities,” the source added.
Ekweremadu, a seasoned lawmaker and three-time Deputy President of the Senate, was convicted in March 2023 by the Old Bailey in London, alongside his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta.
The trio was found guilty of conspiring to exploit a young Nigerian man, David Nwamini, for the removal of his kidney to treat the senator’s ailing daughter.
