Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55, wife of Senator Ike Ekeremadu has been granted bail.
Daily Report Nigeria recalls that the former Deputy Senate President and his wife are facing trial in the United Kingdom after being accused of plotting to traffic a man whose age has been established to be 21, to the UK to harvest a kidney for their daughter.
Beatrice is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, between August 1 last year and May 5, under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, Ike is charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The former Deputy Senate President’s wife was granted bail under stringent conditions, while her husband’s application was denied.
Speaking on the bail, Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks said;
‘The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions but I have refused bail to Ike.’
According to Daily Mail the prosecutors are not appealing the decision.
Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood said previously that the case involved ‘exploitation and the harvesting of an organ.’
He said;
‘The case began on 5 May 2022 when the complainant presented himself at Staines Police Station and claimed he had been transported to this country for the purpose of his kidney being removed.
‘He arrived on 20th February 2022 and was taken to Royal Free Hospital where tests were conducted.
‘For the purpose he was there he did not consent to the taking of his kidney.
‘He returned to the house he was staying and his treatment changed dramatically.
‘He described being treated effectively as a slave.’
Ike Ekweremadu’s lawyer, Martin Hicks however said;
‘We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so.
‘The argument will be factual denial.’
The couple are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 4 August.
