By Aminu Kutama
A Nigerian, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, have been arrested and charged for bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting.
It is not yet established if those arrested are prominent lawmaker and Nigeria’s former deputy senate president Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, but the description given by the UK police fits into their profile.
In a statement which confirmed the couple’s arrest, the metropolitan police said the pair were charged to court on Thursday following an investigation by the force’s specialist crime team.
The police added that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
“Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” the statement reads.
“Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.”
The metropolitan police added that as criminal proceedings are now under way, further details will be provided.