Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo weighs in on the organ trafficking and modern day slavery charges brought against the former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta.
Obasanjo appealed to London’s Central Criminal Court to temper justice with mercy in the case.
His emotional letter follows the conviction in March, of the three Nigerias in the organ trafficking case by a United Kingdom court.
The court ruled that they all conspired to bring a young man from Lagos to London to exploit him for his kidney without his knowledge and were found guilty under the UK Modern Slavery Act.
Sonia, a daughter of the former Deputy Senate President, is said to be battling a kidney failure and requires a transplant to stay alive.
However, ahead of their sentencing, Obasanjo has appealed for leniency from the court.
The former president, in his letter dated April 3, 2023, and addressed to the clerk of the UK court said he understands the gravity of the situation but hopes the Ekweremadus have learnt their lessons.
He pleaded that the clerk should use his “good office” to appeal for leniency in the sentence of the trio on compassionate grounds.
While describing Ekweremadu and his wife as “God-fearing” Nigerians, Obasanjo narrated how they have used their position and resources to help less privileged members of the society in the past.
He appealed that they be allowed to continue their parenting role in the life of their daughter for whom they took the step initially and who is still in need of urgent medical attention.
Excerpts of the letter:
“Through the lkeoha Foundation, a non-governmental organization founded by him and his wife, in 1997, he and his wife have rendered a lot of charitable activities, enhancing poor people’s access to quality education and healthcare and building their capacity to participate in mainstream social, political and economic activities of their communities.
“Ike Ekweremadu’s conferment with the coveted national honour of Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR, Is further testimony to his selfless service to our country, Nigeria.
“Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year-old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter.
“I do realize the implications of their action and I dare say, It is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.
“However, it is my fervent desire that for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper Justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.
“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.”
