The United Kingdom has rejected Nigeria’s request to have former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu returned to the country to serve the remainder of his pr!son term. Ekweremadu is currently serving a nine-year, eight-month sentence in a UK prison following his 2023 conviction for organ‑tr#fficking under British law.
The Nigerian government had dispatched a high-level delegation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, to negotiate a prisoner transfer under existing international agreements. Discussions were held with officials from the UK Ministry of Justice to determine whether Ekweremadu could complete his sentence in a Nigerian correctional facility.
UK authorities, however, stated that the transfer request was denied because Nigeria could not fully guarantee that the sentence would be enforced in accordance with British legal standards. Officials emphasized that the decision reflects the UK’s commitment to upholding justice and preventing modern slavery.
Ekweremadu, his wife, and an accomplice were convicted for trafficking a 21-year-old Nigerian man to the UK under false pretenses to harv*st a kidney. The court described the scheme as exploitative and a breach of human rights, highlighting the seriousness of the offence.
The Nigerian government framed the transfer appeal as part of its obligations under international pris*ner-transfer frameworks, seeking to bring a convicted citizen home under controlled supervision. With the UK’s refusal, Ekweremadu will continue to serve his term in Britain.
Observers say the refusal underscores the UK’s strict enforcement of anti-trafficking laws and raises questions about international collaboration in criminal justice and prisoner transfers.
Leave a Comment
Leave a Comment
