Description
The court heard that a 21-year-old street trader from Lagos was brought to the UK and offered £7,000 for his kidney A wealthy Nigerian senator and his wife have been convicted of conspiring to harvest organs. A jury found Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, and medical 'middleman' Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, guilty of conspiring to bring a young man to Britain to donate his kidney to the sick daughter of the politician.
Ekweremadus' 25-year-old daughter Sonia, who suffers from severe kidney disease, wept in court as she was acquitted by the jury, which deliberated for almost 14 hours.
The wife Beatrice Ekweremadu was also found guilty of the plot.
This is the first time the defendants have been convicted under the Modern Slavery Act for conspiracy to harvest organs.
The victim, a 21-year-old street trader from Lagos, was brought to the UK last year to provide Sonia with a kidney for a private £80,000 transplant at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The prosecution claimed that the donor had been offered up to £7,000 and the promise of a better life in the UK. It has been alleged that the defendants tried to convince the Royal Free doctors by claiming that he was Sonia's cousin when in fact they were not related.
When he was rejected as unfit, the Ekweremadus transferred their interest to Turkey and set out to find another donor.
Nigerian politician Ike Ekweremadu has been convicted of a conspiracy to harvest a child's organs
An investigation was launched after the young man fled London and slept rough for days before entering a police station more than 20 miles from Staines in Surrey, crying and distraught.
Jurors were told that Sonia was one of four siblings who had received a private education in the UK.
He was studying for a master's degree at Newcastle University when he fell ill in December 2019.
In September 2021, his father, a prominent Nigerian politician, sought the help of his medically trained brother, Diwe Ekweremadu, to search for a donor, the court heard.
Diwe, who remains in Nigeria, turned to a former classmate, Dr Obeta, from Southwark, south London, who recently underwent a private kidney transplant at the Royal Free with a Nigerian donor.
In a text message, Diwe told his brother: “I had a long talk last night with my classmate who had a transplant last month. I will inform you.
Sonia Ekweremadu, 25, was cleared of any involvement in the plot
Dr. Obeta then engaged with Dr. Chris Agbo of Vintage Health Group, a medical tourism company, and an agent to secure a visa for the donor, the court heard.
As travel plans progressed, Sonia was encouraged to build a relationship with the donor via text messages, the jury was told.
The members of the jury saw a photo of Sonia smiling with him during a meal in a London restaurant.
Royal Free's consultant, Dr. Peter Dupont, concluded that the donor was not a suitable candidate after learning that he had no advice or advice about the risks of the surgery and lacked funds for the lifelong care he would require.
Undeterred, a "corrupt interpreter" was recruited for £1,500 to help with the donor's second hospital meeting with a surgeon, the court heard.
The two doctors agreed on their evaluation and in March of last year Dr. Dupont gave his decision but without any reason, citing patient confidentiality.
Sonia Ekweremadu's family immediately resumed the search for a donor, the court heard.
After entering Staines Police Station, the original donor told police that he did not understand why he had been brought to the UK until he met Dr Dupont.
Beatrice Ekweremadu (left) and her daughter Sonia Ekweremadu, 25, outside the Old Bailey in central London.
Expressing his fears, he told police: "The doctor said I was too young, but the man said if you don't do it here he will take me back to Nigeria and he will do it there."
"I slept outside for three days, looking for someone to help me, to save my life."
The Ekweremadus, who have an address in Willesden Green, north-west London, and Dr Obeta, of Southwark, south London, have denied the charges against them.
During their graduation addresses at the Old Bailey in February, lawyers for the defendants insisted they believed the donor, who cannot be identified, was acting "altruistically".
Ike Ekweremadu found guilty of 'horrendous' plot
Ike Ekweremadu, who owns some 10 properties in Nigeria and Dubai, told jury he had trusted medical experts but suspected he had been "ripped off".
Beatrice Ekweremadu, who worked in the office of the Nigerian Auditor General and has a doctorate in accounting, said her husband took care of the household finances and she was not involved in finding donors.
Sonia, who is still dependent on weekly dialysis, declined to comment but was told on her behalf that she knew nothing about a reward being offered to donors. He hugged his father crying as he was kicked off the bench.
Beatrice Ekweremadu was arrested at Heathrow airport
Following the guilty verdicts, Judge Johnson sent the defendants to face sentencing on May 5.
Joanne Jakymec, Chief Crown Prosecutor, said: "This was a horrifying plot to exploit a vulnerable victim by trafficking her into the UK for the purpose of receiving a kidney transplant.
"The defendants showed complete disregard for the victim's well-being, health and well-being and used their considerable influence with a high degree of control at all times, with the victim having limited understanding of what was really going on here."
Principal Investigating Inspector Esther Richardson, from the Met's Modern Slavery and Child Exploitation team, said: "This conviction sends a clear message around the world, the UK will not tolerate illegal organ harvesting from the international industry."
“We could not have obtained this conviction without the help of one man, the surviving victim. I congratulate you on your greatest courage.
PA wire
AFP via Getty Images
Pennsylvania
metropolitan police
metropolitan police
Nigerian politician Ike Ekweremadu has been charged with conspiracy to harvest a child's organs
Access
