Videos of the Moment Ekweremadu Was Sentenced, Sonia’s Reaction Afterwards

Videos have emerged showing the internationally televised sentencing of former Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice and a UK-based Nigerian doctor, Obinna Obeta.

For all intents and purposes and in as much as the 3 accused persons were described by the judge as people of good conduct, justice needed to be served.

Mr Justice Johnson told the defendants: “In each of your cases the offence you committed is so serious that neither a fine nor a community sentence can be justified.”

Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Obeta received a 10-year prison term.

The couple, along with the medical “middleman” Dr Obinna Obeta, 50, Ekweremadus’ daughter Sonia, who has a serious kidney condition, wept as she was cleared of the same charge.

Recounting the events leading up to the sentencing, Sonia told BBC Pidgin that “I and my brother and sister were in the house and the bell rang, and we thought it was our parents but the policemen showed up at the door. They said they arrested me for a crime. My first reaction was shock.

“I understand the conviction. I personally disagree with it. However, this is from my biased perspective as their daughter. I will obviously back my parents.

“However, the law has taken its course. We just need to move on as one family. I have no hand at all. It was mostly my family that handed everything about my medical side.”

Speaking further in pidgin, she said, “I sabi say one pesin don come forward, I bin just reach UK wit my uncle and me and my mama bin wan thank di pesin and den di picture we take togeda basically for memories”, (she tok about a foto wey show her and di 21-year-old donor).

“To an extent but I no really know anytin wey lead up to am.”

“I no feel anytin towards am, I wish am all di best and dat na really am.” She said.

“Hopefully I go dey able to get transplant soon, but as una sabi, our family still dey di middle of trial I go like use dis opportunity to apologise to dem about how everytin play out”, Sonia said