The House of Representatives made a request for Ike Ekweremadu, a Nigerian senator who was convicted of “organ trafficking” in March, receive a sentence that balances justice and mercy from the government and court in the United Kingdom.
The resolution was a follow-up to a motion of urgent public interest made on Tuesday during plenary by Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu).
The UK government and the court were urged by the House to balance justice and mercy while punishing Mr. Ekweremadu, a former vice president of the senate, along with his wife and their doctor.
Additionally, it urged the Nigerian government to make all necessary diplomatic and other interventions in relation to the struggles faced by the Ekweremadu family.
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Ekweremadu, the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, was arrested and charged by MET Police last June for conspiracy to traffic a man, whose name was later revealed to David Nwamini (Ukpo), to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his organ to treat his ailing daughter.
Beatrice, his wife, and a Nigerian doctor were also charged with him.
The dad was said to have voluntarily consented to give one of his kidneys to the sick daughter, according to the trio. However, the Westminster Magistrate Court found them guilty in March in what has been referred to as the first case of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act. They could receive a 10-year prison sentence when they are sentenced on May 5.
According to information given by the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Westminster Magistrate Court in June, Nwamini was not a minor.
Moving the motion, Mr Okechukwu, who is a close ally of Mr Ekweremadu, said there is a need for clemency based on public service.
He noted that the House must take “Cognizant of the predicaments of Ekweremadu’s ailing daughter, who needs the financial support and parental love of her parents to scale through her dire health challenge.”
Okechukwu added that “it is a common practice in international relations for nations, including the UK, to seek relief for their citizens involved in situations such as that of the Ekweremadus.”
Speaking in support of the motion, Jide Jimoh (APC, Lagos), said Ekweremadu has served the nation meritoriously, hence, the country should come to his aid.
He has served this country meritoriously with a very good record.
It is only God that is merciful. We are calling on the UK government to be merciful in this situation to ensure the lawmaker is not jailed.
Before ruling on the motion, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said the charges against Mr Ekweremadu are a departure from the character of the man he has known for 24 years.
“It was a terrible shock. It is a far departure from the character of a man I have known for 24 years,” he said.
Gbajabiamila promised to write to the relevant bodies in respect of Mr Ekweremadu.
