A photo of former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu in prison uniform just emerged.
Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were on Thursday last week found guilty by a United Kingdom court, of conspiracy to harvest the organ of a young Nigerian. But the court reserved a later date for sentencing of the couple and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta.
Shortly after their conviction at the Central Criminal Court, a.k.a. Old Bailey, the former deputy senate president was taken to prison while his wife’s lawyer, Anu Mohindru, KC, made efforts for Beatrice to remain on conditional bail till the provisional day of sentencing on Friday, May 5, 2023.
But the Crown’s Hugh Davies, KC, who had raised the “bail” matter rose to his feet immediately to block the defence application.
While Mohindru argued that the court should consider the plight of the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who is said to sometimes “black out” and needs support to attend her thrice weekly dialysis sessions at the Royal Free Hospital, Davies convinced the judge that the Ekweremadus have the means to enable the Senator’s wife jet out of the United Kingdom, including by using “forged identification documents.”
The prosecutor referenced the forged affidavit that was tabled during the trial to make his case. He was of the view that if they could produce false documents to claim Sonia and David Nwamini – who triggered the case on May 5, last year, when he went to the police to report that he was trafficked to the UK by unknown people – were maternal cousins, then Mrs Ekweremadu could therefore conjure false identification documents to make her way out of the UK.
Though Mohindru argued to the contrary, noting that the false documents were fabricated in Nigeria and not in the UK, the judge didn’t budge.
Although he acknowledged that she had “maintained the bail conditions” and always “arrived in court on time”, he sided with the Crown’s position. Thus, she was taken to prison – sent down – immediately from the dock rather than being allowed to go home with Sonia.
When Mohindru raised the need for the judge to be compassionate, considering especially the needs of Sonia, and the emotional impact of the convictions of her parents, Justice Johnson argued that he wasn’t going to take any chances by allowing Mrs Ekweremadu enjoy a few weeks of freedom. He said Sonia’s siblings could provide the support she needs.