The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally approached the United Kingdom for approval to transfer former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to a Nigerian prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
The move, confirmed by Alkasim AbdulKadir, spokesman for Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, is part of ongoing consultations with UK authorities.
Ekweremadu, a former deputy senate president and prominent figure in Nigeria’s political landscape, was convicted in the UK in May 2023 under the Modern Slavery Act for organ trafficking.
The conviction stemmed from a scheme in which he attempted to bring a 21-year-old Lagos street vendor to Britain for a kidney transplant for his daughter, Sonia Ekweremadu.
His wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, also faced conviction and received a four-year and six-month sentence, though she was released early in 2025. A medical middleman, Dr. Obinna Obeta, received a 10-year prison term for facilitating the transaction.
Following the conviction, Ekweremadu was incarcerated in a UK prison. The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has now sent a high-level delegation to engage with UK authorities on a prisoner transfer arrangement that would allow him to serve his remaining sentence in Nigeria.
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The delegation included Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Adegbite (SAN).
Officials were later received at the Nigerian High Commission in London by Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu.
AbdulKadir explained that the appeal for a prisoner transfer is ongoing and highlighted that Nigeria is seeking an agreement to allow Ekweremadu to serve his remaining term closer to home.
Such a transfer would follow international conventions on prisoner transfers and bilateral cooperation between the UK and Nigeria, and could serve as a precedent for similar high-profile cases in the future.
Ekweremadu, a two-term senator representing Enugu West, served as Deputy Senate President between 2007 and 2019.
During his tenure, he was widely regarded as one of the most influential legislators in Nigeria, participating in key debates and policy-making decisions.
His arrest and subsequent conviction sent shockwaves across Nigeria, highlighting the international reach of law enforcement agencies and the consequences of high-profile crimes beyond national borders.
The Nigerian government’s efforts to secure Ekweremadu’s transfer are being closely watched by legal experts, human rights advocates, and the public, as they raise questions about the procedural and diplomatic mechanisms required for high-profile prisoner transfers.
Approval from UK authorities would ensure that Ekweremadu completes his sentence in Nigeria while adhering to international legal frameworks.
Eagle Online
