Doyin Okupe, the former Director General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, has reacted to the conviction of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by a UK Court.
Voiceofnaija.ng had reported that Ekweremadu, his wife and a medical “middleman” were found guilty of an organ-trafficking plot, after they brought a 21-year-old man to the UK from Lagos.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, and Dr. Obinna Obeta, 50, were convicted of conspiring to exploit the man for his kidney, in the first such case under modern slavery laws.
The Old Bailey heard the organ was for the couple’s daughter, Sonia, aged 25.
She was cleared of the same charge.
The victim, a street trader from Lagos, was brought to the UK last year to provide a kidney in an £80,000 private transplant at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The prosecution said he was offered up to £7,000 and promised opportunities in the UK for helping, and that he only realized what was going on when he met doctors at the hospital.
It was alleged the defendants had tried to convince medics at the Royal Free by pretending he was the cousin of Sonia, who has a debilitating illness and remains on weekly dialysis, when they were not related.
While it is lawful to donate a kidney, it becomes criminal if there is a reward of money or other material advantage.
The trio was convicted of organ trafficking, in the first verdict of its kind under the United Modern Slavery Act.
Reacting on his Twitter page, Okupe prayed that God will intervene and help the family.
“My heart this morning goes out to Ekweremadu, his wife and unfortunate family. I cannot act as a judge in this matter.
“But I pray that God of the universe who rules over the affairs of men will intervene in this sad development. God, help us in this time of trouble as you promised.”
