Nigerian lawmakers request UK clemency for Ekweremadu over organ trafficking charges
The House of Representatives in Nigeria has passed a resolution urging the British government to intervene in the sentencing of former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife Beatrice in the UK, with the aim of ensuring a softer punishment.
The lawmakers specifically addressed the UK Crown at a plenary on Tuesday, requesting that the UK Criminal Court consider their plea.
The resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu.
The House also called on the Nigerian government to take diplomatic steps to “intervene” in the trial of the lawmaker.
Ekweremadu is due to be sentenced on May 5 at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, in the UK. He and his wife are facing charges of conspiring to arrange the travel of another Nigerian citizen to harvest his organs.
The case has attracted widespread attention and raised concerns about organ trafficking.
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Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who specifically addressed the British government said: “I am going to use this opportunity to speak to the Crown and of course, the British judicial system not in the bid to absolve the former deputy president of the Senate of any offences he may have committed, but to plead for clemency.
“It behooves any government of any country, wherever their citizens are distressed or found in situations such as this, that their government should intervene. Not in the bid to establish their innocence, but in the bid to plead for clemency.
“Nations have done it times without number, even advanced democracies in the world. Recently, an American citizen, the famed basketballer, Britney Griner, was arrested by the Russian authorities. The crime was escalated. But the US Government did not relent for a day until her release was secured. And for that reason, I will on behalf of the House of Representatives, also speak to the British Government and Judicial system. for as long as I have known Senator Ike Ekweremadu, he has been brilliant lawyer, a distinguished public servant, and a dedicated family man.”
Gbajabiamila added that, “For as long as I have known Ike Ekweremadu, he has been a brilliant lawyer, a distinguished public servant and a dedicated family man. Over the course of two decades of shared service in the national legislature, he has become a dear friend and trusted colleague. For these reasons, his arrest by authorities in the United Kingdom on charges of conspiring to arrange the travel of another Nigerian citizen to harvest his organs was a terrible shock. These revelations are a far departure from the character of the man as I have known him and fall far short of the standards of behaviour expected from a person of his standing. All that has come to light since his arrest has been deplorable and deeply unpleasant.
“For twenty-four years since the return to democratic governance in Nigeria, Ike Ekweremadu has served the people of his community, his state and his country with vigour and dedication. For most of that time, he has been a member of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has used this office to advance the cause of democracy, champion critical reforms and advocate for the development of his constituency. Through his Ikeoha Foundation, he and his wife have helped provide access to quality education and healthcare for thousands of people in his community and his state. Their public service and private philanthropy have helped improve the social, economic and political fortunes of their communities and aided the personal and professional progress of many.
“None of this suggests that either Ike Ekweremadu or his wife should be above the law or held to a different standard than any other citizen. I recount these things to present a whole perspective so that in this moment of consequence, the judgment of the court may take into consideration the Ekweremadu’s history of honourable living and distinguished service, their contributions to a better world and the possibility that, given a chance, through the penitence of service, both Ike and his wife can yet atone for their failings and find forgiveness before God and man.
“The welfare of two young Nigerians lies at the heart of this case. I hope that after all this is done, Mr David Nwamini, the complaining witness, will go on to a long and productive life, free from the trauma of his recent travails. For Ms Sonia Ekweremadu, Ike’s young daughter, whose well-being necessitated the unfortunate actions that have now led to these terrible consequences for all involved, the nightmare of a dangerous diagnosis is compounded beyond measure by the real possibility that the two people most responsible for her care may shortly be committed to terms of punishment from which they will be unable to offer even a loving embrace when nothing else will do.
“Surely, it is within our means to live under the law and be just and merciful all at once. I urge the court to consider the noble acts of Ike Ekweremadu’s life and judge him on the totality of that life rather than solely on this last worst act. I am confident that Ike Ekweremadu and his wife have learned from their recent experiences and will be guided by their better angels for the rest of their days. If nothing else, for the sake of their ailing daughter, Sonia, let mercy temper justice for this family.”
While presenting the motion, deputy minroty leader of the House, Okechukwu, noted that Ekweremadu had paid his dues to Nigeria. He added that, “I do not know any living human being, who would ordinarily want to commit a crime and go and report himself. It is also taken that ignorance is not an excuse in law. But justice must be done with the intendment of the person. If the intention were to commit a crime, then he would not have reported himself by writing to the UK High Commission where he pleaded that the potential donor be given a medical visa.
“I know that it is also possible that a British citizen or a parliamentarian for that matter or a citizen of any other country could do things that offend the law in another land. It is expected, it is a norm in the committee of nations, that there be backdoor channels for diplomatic interventions. Meanwhile, the quality of justice and quality of mercy are to be determined by what extent the person has ever committed a crime. Senator Ekweremadu has never been convicted of any crime. As a matter of fact, he has come to the aid of Nigerians. On several occasions, his Foundation, the Ikeoha Foundation, has contributed towards the common good of Nigerians.
“If he has ever been a bad citizen of Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo would not have intervened; you, Mr. Speaker would not have intervened. The Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs could not have intervened.
Mr. Speaker, it really hurts. So, I want to ask my honourable colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to bring the full weight of this parliament, both formerly and informally, and ask the British Government to remember the long-term relations we have had with them. Nigeria asks the British Government to do unto a serving Member of the Nigerian parliament, as they would wish Nigeria does unto them were the table to turn; that they should serve the cause of justice by showing some clemency, mindful of the intent.”
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