Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, appeared in a London court on Tuesday for a trial on alleged organ harvesting, but his accused daughter was unable to attend due to illness.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that Ekweremadu is being tried in connection with the organ harvesting case involving the alleged kidney donor, David Nwamini Ukpo.
UK authorities arrested Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, on suspicion of bringing a minor to the UK to harvest his kidney.
Prosecutors claimed the defendants planned to have the man’s kidney removed so that it could be given to Sonia, their own daughter.
She was unable to appear in court because she was hospitalized with an unspecified condition.
Her defense team also filed a psychological report claiming she is unfit to stand trial.
The court adjourned shortly after it convened to allow prosecutors to read the report.
Following preliminary tests at a north London hospital, the accuser is said to have raised the alarm after refusing to consent to the procedure.
During the brief session on Tuesday morning, Beatrice sat next to her husband in the dock, dressed all in black.
Both supporters and protesters gathered outside the London courthouse ahead of Tuesday’s hearing.
I mean, this case is unbelievable, said protester Citizen Gbola.
Where else in the world would you have a deputy senate president — who is still a serving senator, he’s still getting his regular wage?