President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly dispatched a high-powered Nigerian government delegation to the United Kingdom (UK) to discuss the case of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is currently serving a prison sentence in the UK over organ trafficking.
The delegation, which includes Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), arrived in London on Monday for meetings with top officials of the UK Ministry of Justice.
According to a post by Ayekooto Akindele, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the officials were received at the Nigerian High Commission in London by Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Akindele shared a short video of the ministers’ arrival on his social media page, describing the mission as part of the government’s “ongoing diplomatic engagements” over Ekweremadu’s situation.
Although the Nigerian government has not yet released an official statement, the presence of the two top ministers has fueled public speculation that the visit is connected to efforts to secure some form of relief or intervention for the detained lawmaker.
It is not yet clear whether the discussions in London will focus on securing a transfer agreement for Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria, or on seeking clemency from UK authorities.
Such diplomatic interventions are not unusual. Nigeria has, in the past, made similar efforts on behalf of citizens detained abroad, especially where humanitarian or political considerations are involved.
Ike Ekweremadu, a veteran politician and lawyer, has been in UK custody since June 2022, when he was arrested along with his wife, Beatrice, by the London Metropolitan Police.
The couple was accused of trafficking a young man, David Nwamini, from Nigeria to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his kidney for a transplant intended for their ailing daughter, Sonia.
In May 2023, an Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in London convicted Ekweremadu, his wife, and a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for exploitation under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Justice Johnson, who presided over the case, sentenced Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison, Beatrice to four years and six months, and Dr. Obeta to ten years.
The judge described the crime as “a serious breach of trust and abuse of power,” noting that the defendants exploited the vulnerability of a young man for their personal benefit.
The trial attracted global attention, with many Nigerians expressing shock and sympathy, given Ekweremadu’s long-standing political career and reputation.
In January 2025, news emerged that Beatrice Ekweremadu had completed her prison term and been released. She subsequently returned to Nigeria quietly.
However, Ike Ekweremadu remains in custody in the UK, reportedly serving his sentence at one of the correctional facilities in the London area.
Sources close to the family say he has been in “stable condition” and maintains contact with his wife and children. His daughter, Sonia, who was at the centre of the case, has continued to receive medical treatment in the UK.
Ike Ekweremadu, 62, is one of Nigeria’s most prominent politicians from the South-East region. A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he represented Enugu West Senatorial District in the National Assembly for over two decades.
He served as Deputy President of the Senate from 2007 to 2019, making him one of the longest-serving principal officers in Nigeria’s democratic history.
Before his incarceration, Ekweremadu was widely regarded as an influential voice in national politics and had played key roles in constitutional review committees and legislative reforms.
Relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom have traditionally been close, with strong cooperation in trade, education, and justice. However, the Ekweremadu case has tested this relationship, particularly in how both countries handle citizens’ rights and legal processes.
Since the sentencing, many Nigerians, including lawmakers, civil society groups, and religious leaders—have appealed to the British government for leniency on humanitarian grounds, arguing that Ekweremadu acted out of desperation to save his sick daughter.
In June 2023, the Nigerian Senate passed a resolution urging the federal government to engage UK authorities diplomatically on the matter. Monday’s visit by Tinubu’s delegation appears to be a continuation of that effort.
A senior government official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the delegation’s mission was to “discuss legal and diplomatic frameworks” related to prisoner transfer and to explore other “bilateral justice cooperation” issues.
He added, however, that “no deal has been reached yet” and discussions are still ongoing.
As of press time, the Nigerian government had not issued an official statement about the outcome of the London meetings.
However, diplomatic sources suggest that further talks are expected in the coming weeks between Nigerian and British officials.
Whether the effort will lead to a transfer, pardon, or sentence reduction for Ekweremadu remains to be seen.
