Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President, his wife Beatrice, alongside their doctor, have been convicted of organ trafficking.
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| Defendants Beatrice Ekweremadu (l) and Sonia Ekweremadu outside the Old Bailey Photo: BBC |
The trio – 60-year old Ekweremadu, 56-year old Beatrice and 51-year old Dr. Obinna Obeta, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britian with a view to his exploitation following a trial which stayed for six weeks at the Old Bailey.
The lawmaker’s daughter, Sonia, was cleared by the court.
According to the Jury, Ekweremadu, Beatrice alongside their doctor conspired criminally to bring the 21-year old to London to exploit him for his kidney.
Hugh Davies KC, the Prosecutor, told the court the Ekweremadus and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donours as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward”. He said they entered an “emotionally cold commercial transaction” with the man.
The behaviour of Ekweremadu showed “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy”, Davies told the jury.
Ekweremadu who denied the charge told the court he was a victim of a scam; Beatrice denied any knowledge of the conspiracy; Obeta claimed the man was not offered a reward for his kidney and was acting humanely; Sonia did not give any evidence.
The judge, Mr Justice Jeremy Johnson, will pass sentence at a later date.
