Organ harvesting: Court grants Beatrice Ekweremadu bail

Ike Ekweremadu, wife Beatrice and David Ukpo

Alleged organ harvesting: Ekweremadu asks court to dismiss Ukpo’s plea

A London court granted bail to Beatrice Ekweremadu, the wife of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, on Monday.

She was arrested alongside her husband in June by the Metropolitan police on allegations of trafficking a 21-year-old for organ harvesting.

They were accused of attempting to smuggle Ukpo Uwamini David, 21, from Nigeria to the UK for the purpose of having their daughter Sonia Ekweremadu, who has renal failure, receive a transplant from David’s body parts.

Although Sen. Ike Ekweremadu sought bail, he was denied.

According to Daily Mail UK, the couple appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, for a bail hearing.

Beatrice was charged under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 with arranging or facilitating the travel of another person with the intent to exploit between August 1 of last year and May 5.

However, Ike Ekweremadu was charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with the intent to exploit, specifically organ harvesting.

Judge Richard Marks, the common serjeant of London, in his ruling, said; “The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice, subject to some fairly stringent conditions, but I have refused bail to Ike.’

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Prosecutors are not appealing the decision, the court heard.

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.”

“Before showing up at Staines Police Station, the victim allegedly fled the address and lived on the streets for three days”.

Martin Hicks, QC, defending Ike Ekweremadu said: “We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so. The argument will be factual denial.”

The couple is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 4 August.

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