Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The hope of former Deputy Senate President, and Senator representing Enugu West, Ike Ekweremadu, to regain his freedom was this morning quashed as the Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom hearing the alleged organ harvest charge against him has refused to grant him bail.
Trial Judge who adjourned the matter till October, said there would be a hearing of pretrial applications on October 31.
The Judge further disclosed that the trial will commence fully on May 2, 2023.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, are facing charges for allegedly arranging the travel of one David Nwamini with a view to harvesting his organ.
Nwanmini who claimed he was 15 years and allegedly lured to UK by the Ekweremadus reported them to the police when they wanted to return him to Nigeria as his kidney was said not to match with that of Ekweremadu’s daughter in need of kidney transplant.
The donor later admitted that he was actually 21 year and not 15, yet the court has refused to free Ekweremadu although his wife has been granted bail.
They were arrested by London Metropolitan Police in June and appeared before a magistrate court in July.
Meanwhile, Ekweremadu has asked the court to allow a new lawyer to represent him.
It’s not yet clear if he wants to hire attorneys from Nigeria to take up his legal defense.
Ekweremadu had written to the UK high Commission in December 2021 to support a visa application for Nwamini.
In the letter, Ekweremadu said Nwamini was undergoing medical investigations for a kidney donation to Sonia Ekweremadu, his daughter, who is in need of a kidney transplant, and said both Nwamini and Sonia will be at the Royal Free Hospital London.
