₦airaland Forum

The UK government has rejected a request by Nigeria to deport a former senior Nigerian politician convicted of organ trafficking.

Ike Ekweremadu, 63, a former deputy president of the Nigerian senate and ally of the former president Goodluck Jonathan, is serving a sentence of nine years and eight months after being found guilty in 2023 of conspiring to exploit a man for his kidney.

Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, and a co-conspirator, Dr Obinna Obeta, trafficked a young man to London with a view to harvesting his kidney, which they planned to transplant to Ekweremadu’s daughter Sonia in a private unit of an NHS hospital.

It was the first conviction for organ trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act.

Last week, a Nigerian government delegation, led by the foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, met officials at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to discuss Ekweremadu’s case. The delegation requested his deportation so he could serve his remaining sentence in Nigeria.

A source at the MoJ has confirmed the request was rejected. It is understood the UK government was concerned that Nigeria could offer no guarantees that Ekweremadu would continue his prison sentence after being deported.

A government spokesperson said it could not comment on individual prisoners. They added: “Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice.”

A source said: “The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law.”


Beatrice Ekweremadu, who was sentenced to four years and six months, with half spent in custody, was released earlier this year and has since returned to Nigeria.

In his sentencing remarks, Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson said all three conspirators played a part in a “despicable trade”. He said: “The harvesting of human organs is a form of slavery. It treats human beings and their bodies as commodities to be bought and sold.”

The judge described Ekweremadu as the “driving force” behind the organ-trafficking plot, and said his conviction represented “a very substantial fall from grace”.

Source - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/nov/24/uk-rejects-nigerian-request-to-deport-former-politican-ike-ekweremadu-jailed-for-organ-trafficking

Wahala o, stay legal guys

If the UK transfers Ekweremadu to Nigeria today, Tinubu will pardon him tomorrow and he will go home the same day.

The Brits understand Nigérian politicians so well. That's why our politicians' request was declined.

Ekweremadu's case is a bitter one but we must learn to read the signs and avoid some things.

The case was politically motivated but unfortunately, he fell into the trap.

The UK government are not ready to release him soon.

Alright... He should stay with them for the 9yrs 8months.

Salewa97:
Ekweremadu's case is a bitter one but we must learn to read the signs and avoid some things.

The case was politically motivated but unfortunately, he fell into the trap.

The UK government are not ready to release him soon.

Politically motivated by who?

Will the Nigerian government let him serve his full sentence if he's send to Nigeria? If he won't be serving the 9 years and 8 months if he's deported, then I see no reason the British government should hand him over.

Salewa97:
Ekweremadu's case is a bitter one but we must learn to read the signs and avoid some things.

The case was politically motivated but unfortunately, he fell into the trap.

The UK government are not ready to release him soon.

The kinds of thought process some of you have is simply amusing.

It is "politically motivated " as in " witch hunt" abi ? E do am ? Abi e no do am ?

As in, if to sey the procedure could have been done in Nigeria....you think they won't kill that boy and just take the organ that they needed.

You think that if they treated that boy right and paid him an substantial initial sum in his account here in Nigeria, gave him one of their old cars and a small house with monthly stipend or commitment to send him to university he would snitch on them?

With all the money they have they still wanted to cheat that boy for saving the life of their daughter...they were going to do him dirty ,na why he cast them.

Ekweremadu should continue his sentence in the UK.

Salewa97:
Ekweremadu's case is a bitter one but we must learn to read the signs and avoid some things.

The case was politically motivated but unfortunately, he fell into the trap.

The UK government are not ready to release him soon.

No matter how things are -- Everybody has a fan -- Even the devil has supporters

We should just let this matter rest. Ekweremadu has suffered enough.

Actions have consequences, regardless of status or nationality.Nigeria must learn that diplomacy cannot be used to launder accountability. If anything, this should be a moment of reflection for our leaders: the world is watching, and justice systems elsewhere do not bend because someone holds a title.Instead of seeking shortcuts, we should focus on strengthening our own institutions so justice at home carries the same weight and integrity.

Ekweremadu should continue his jail term in the UK. No option B.

The request itself was a failed mission from the start. Why did they waste our resources on this bad gospel? Brits are cunny so why will you expect their very first convict under the act to then be released? They will even add it to their wiki catalogue that as if the slavery was not enough, the slave masters tried to rescue him 🤡
In 20 years time, they will prove that they have repented for their slavery sins and who else allowed the sins to go on? The Enemy Within!

What a shame. Shame on these people embarrassing Nigeria.

The UK should be ashamed of itself for not deporting a former senator that was convicted for organ trafficking.

Is that not modern slavery? Why are they so hellbent on keeping that guy in the UK?

Good...Laws are not meant to regulate the behavior of the poor only! God bless UK!

Ikaeniyan0:
Will the Nigerian government let him serve his full sentence if he's send to Nigeria? If he won't be serving the 9 years and 8 months if he's deported, then I see no reason the British government should hand him over.

Remember it is counted day and night... In actual he will only spend 4 years in custody. Two years already gone... He will be officially released in 2027.

Is the daughter for whom they are going through this imprisonment still alive? That itself is a lesson! No matter what, if you die today, loved ones will not follow you. They will still be here and rocking. If they knew, a different and more honorable process would have made the difference, but because they have money and power, they felt other humans were beneath them and saw the young man’s life whose organs they had planned to use as dispensable.

They should be patient and serve the remainder years in peace, perhaps, good behavior and exemplary character may see him out in no time.

The Brits know us too well, that what the BAT government wants. Is just to let him off the hook for political and pecuniary gains

Lol.. they want him back home before the 2027 elections, so he'll come and work for the evil government in power.

Good! Do not trust Nigeria government to effect justice!

Hol'am for dia! Good one from the UK

I like this script. Man should do the time, others will sit up and learn.

We can't just export how brand of anyhowness and expect the world cheer us, hard lessons must be learnt.

Ikaeniyan0:
Politically motivated by who?

No mind am. The apc guy brain just too limited. They politicize everything. Even the lives of nigerians. Dont take the serious bro

Poor Ekwere. He should have committed the crime here. By now he'd be preparing to run for president in 2027

SmartPolician:
If the UK transfers Ekweremadu to Nigeria today, Tinubu will pardon him tomorrow and he will go home the same day.

The Brits understand Nigérian politicians so well. That's why our politicians' request was declined.

And you forgot th3y trained our politicians to what they are now?

The Brits aren't daft.

They know he'll be celebrated when he lands.

"He is a son of a bitchh but our son of a bitchh"

Lamba king that likes supporting criminals and crimes, I wonder whose side he will be on this one. I suspect he will totally ignore this news so as not to offend his people if he applauds the UK or offend other Nigerians if he questions the motive for requesting for his deportation in the first place.

Even though Igbos hate Tinubu with all their heart, Tinubu is still fighting for their son in far away UK