Law & JusticeNewsEkweremadu: UK Court Rules That Victim Is 21, Not 15, Adjourns Case To August 4

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The Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom has ruled that David Ukpo, the alleged kidney donor for the daughter of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, is not 15 years old.

The West African Pilot reports that Ekweremadu, a former deputy president of the Nigerian senate, and Beatrice, his wife, were arrested by the British police on June 23 on allegations of human trafficking and organ harvesting that violate the country’s Modern Slavery Act.

The police authorities had accused the lawmaker of conspiring to bring a child to the United Kingdom for organ harvesting, saying the victim was a 15-year-old boy.

The senator representing Enugu West and his wife appeared for the continuation of the trial at the Westminster magistrate court on Thursday.

During the proceeding, the counsel to the defendants (the Ekweremadus) denied the allegations of exploitation laid by the alleged victim and argued that he (Ukpo) lied about his age while the prosecutor had insisted that Ukpo was a minor.

Thereafter, the judge ruled that the victim is not a minor and adjourned the case till August 4. Senator Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, are to be remanded in custody until the next hearing.

The court also transferred the case to the Central Criminal Court.

Present at the hearing were some members of the Senate and delegates from the Nigerian High Commission.

Adamu Bulkachuwa, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, led the Senate delegation to the court.

Also present were former Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnanya Abaribe, former Senate President, David Mark, and former Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba.

By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter)

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