A NIGERIAN senator has appeared in a London court accused of human trafficking and attempting to harvest organs in the United Kingdom.
Ike Ekweremadu, 60, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, ahead of his trial for conspiracy to arrange the travel of a man from Nigeria to the UK to have his kidney removed.
Mr Eweremadu appeared at court in a grey tracksuit top and only spoke to confirm his name by saying “Yes, miss”.
He is accused along with his wife, Beatrice, daughter and a doctor, of bringing the 21-year-old Nigerian man to London to have his kidney organs removed.
Prosecutors said the defendants allegedly planned to have the kidney removed from the Nigerian man, so it could be given to the politicians daughter, Sonia – who was not at the hearing.
According to reports, Sonia is currently in hospital with a condition – which was not disclosed to the court.
Her defence team have submitted a psychological report and claim she is not currently fit enough to stand trial.
Tuesday’s court hearing was adjourned so prosecutors can have sufficient time to read the submitted report.
The alleged offence is said to have occurred between August 2021 and May 2022.
The accuser underwent preliminary tests at a north London hospital, but then raised the alarm after he refused to give consent for the procedure to go ahead.
He then made official charges after contacting police in a town outside of London.
As a result, the Ekweremadus were arrested June last year at London’s Heathrow airport after flying into London.
A London doctor, Obinna Obeta, 50, from south London, was also arrested at a later date.
The Ekweremadu’s and the doctor are accused of conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for the purpose of being exploited, which is a violation of the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.
The trial has been brought forward from its original date of May 2023.
Mr Ekweremadu is a senator that represents Enugu West Senatorial District for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His bail application was denied over concerns that he would attempt to flee the country.
According to AFP before court proceedings, there was a gathering of protesters, some of whom were in support of the Nigerian politician.
Other demonstrators are believed to be against the high-profile Nigerian senator.
Last year, according to The Guardian, in a prepared statement, Mrs Ekweremadu denied the allegations that he harvested organs.
Mr Ekweremadu is being represented by Gavin Irwin who last year described the allegations as “nothing short of preposterous.”
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West Africans have learnt nothing from the central role they historically played in the enslavement of their countrymen and women to Caucasian European,and semitic Arabic Traders; if today, senior Nigerians are “harvesting” for profit the organs of their country men; women and children.