iNigerians gathered outside the Old Bailey court, London on Tuesday to protest against the continued detention of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate who has been in detention for 223 days in the UK on charges of alleged human trafficking.
The Enugu state born politician was in June 2022 arrested alongside his wife, Dr Nwanneka Beatrice Ekweremadu at Heathrow Airport in London on the allegation that they flew a young man from Nigeria to the UK to harvest his organ.
The allegation added that the organ was meant for Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia, who is currently hospitalised with a kidney-related illness.
Some Nigerians had in October 2022 protested in Abuja against the continued detention of the lawmaker who has now spent 223 days in the custody of UK authorities.
Protesters, once again, gathered at the court on Tuesday to support the embattled lawmaker and to protest against his continued detention in UK custody.
According to Daily Mail, Sonia couldn’t make it to court on Tuesday but sought permission with a psychological report by her team claiming she was not fit to stand trial.
She had pleaded not guilty to the allegation of trafficking a homeless man into the UK to harvest his organs for herself, when she appeared in court on November 7, 2022.
The young man, who levelled the allegation against the Ekweremadus, told Staines Police Station that he was made to undergo some medical tests, none of which he consented to.
A 50-year-old medical doctor from South London, Obinna Obeta, was also arrested in connection to the allegation.
During proceedings at the Old Bailey court, Ekweremadu who wore a grey tracksuit top only said “Yes, miss” when asked to confirm his name.
Seated beside the lawmaker in the dock and dressed in black was his wife who was granted bail in July 2022 while her husband was said to be a flight risk.
