Current:Home > NewsSenior Nigerian politician found guilty of "horrific" illegal organ harvesting plot in U.K. -RiskWatch
Senior Nigerian politician found guilty of "horrific" illegal organ harvesting plot in U.K.
View
Date:2025-04-17 04:50:13
London — A senior Nigerian politician, along with his wife and another man, were found guilty by a U.K. court Thursday of attempted organ trafficking. Ike Ekweremadu, 60, a former deputy president of Nigeria's senate, his wife Beatrice and Dr. Obinna Obeta were convicted of "exploiting a vulnerable victim for illegal organ harvesting" after bringing a 21-year-old man to the U.K. from Lagos, according to the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service.
The Criminal Court in London heard the kidney was intended for the Nigerian couple's 25-year-old daughter Sonia, who was cleared of the charge of organ trafficking Thursday, the BBC reported.
Sonia Ekweremadu had suffered from "deteriorating kidneys" and required "regular dialysis," according to prosecutors. Authorities "found evidence that her parents, Ike and Beatrice Ekeweremadu, conspired with Dr. Obeta to identify individuals in Nigeria whose kidneys might be harvested for Sonia's benefit."
In February 2022, the victim, a street trader, was trafficked to London and "was kept under the direction and financial control of the defendants… The conspirators' plan was for the victim to provide a kidney to Sonia Ekweremadu in exchange for the suggested amount of either £2,400 or £7,000 and the promise of work in the U.K.," the prosecutor said in the statement.
The court heard the defendants had attempted to convince doctors at London's Royal Free Hospital that the victim and Sonia Ekweremadu were cousins in a bid to justify the victim's temporary travel visa to the U.K.
The victim had undergone a kidney screening, but a consultant doctor had concluded the donor was unsuitable after learning he'd been given no counselling or advice about the risks of the surgery and lacked funds for the lifelong care he would need afterward.
Authorities were made aware of the case when the victim entered a local police station in West London and said he had been trafficked from Nigeria and that someone was trying to transplant his kidney.
Joanne Jakymec, the chief prosecutor in the case, called it a "horrific plot to exploit a vulnerable victim by trafficking him to the U.K. for the purpose of transplanting his kidney."
"The convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victim's welfare, health and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having limited understanding of what was really going on here," Jakymec said.
A report by Interpol in 2021 found a wide network of people are often involved in organ trafficking in North and West Africa, with connections to the medical sector in countries from the region. Techniques used for illegal organ trafficking are often used for other types of human trafficking, such as promises of job opportunities abroad, as well as the use of threats and violence, the report said
- In:
- Nigeria
- Organ Transplant
- Britain
- Smuggling
- United Kingdom
- Human Trafficking
veryGood! (78)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- That cool Tony Awards moment when Jay-Z joined Alicia Keys? Turns out it wasn’t live
- NYU student's roommate stole $50k in designer items, including Chanel purse, lawsuit says
- Remains of missing 8-month old found hidden in Kentucky home; parents arrested
- Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
- Here’s what you need to know about the lawsuit against the NFL by ‘Sunday Ticket’ subscribers
- Southern New Mexico wildfire leads to evacuation of village of 7,000
- Apple kills off its buy now, pay later service service barely a year after launch
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Who has qualified for WWE 2024 Money in the Bank matches? Men's, women's participants
Ranking
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan Sets Hearts Aflutter in Viral SKIMS Dress
- Boston Celtics now have most NBA championships. How many does every team have?
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, I Won't Stand For It!
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Retirement bites? Almost half of Gen Xers say they'll need a miracle to retire.
- 6 people killed, 5 others hospitalized after Georgia house catches fire
- NYU student accuses roommate of stealing over $50,000 worth of clothes, handbags and jewelry, court documents say
Recommendation
Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
Selling Sunset's Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet Sets Record Straight on Possible Christine Quinn Return
New Mexico village of Ruidoso orders residents to evacuate due to raging wildfire: GO NOW
Boston Celtics defeat Dallas Mavericks to win 2024 NBA Finals
'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
Ralph Lauren goes with basic blue jeans for Team USA’s opening Olympic ceremony uniforms
Shooter who killed 5 at a Colorado LGBTQ+ club set to plead guilty to federal hate crimes
Tens of millions in the US remain under dangerous heat warnings