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Mia SimpsonFebruary 6, 2023
The trial of Beatrice and Sonia Ekweremadu, the wife and daughter of Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has been ongoing at the Old Bailey in London. The three of them, along with staff member Dr. Obinna Obeta, are charged with arranging for a 21-year-old street vendor from Lagos to come to London and donate a kidney to Sonia Ekweremadu, who is suffering from kidney disease. The defendants deny the allegations.
The prosecution, led by Hugh Davies KC, has argued that Ike Ekweremadu’s “status and influence had produced a significant amount of wealth”, and that the family had “international connections”. The jury heard that a reward had been offered to the alleged donor, and that “sophisticated steps” had been taken to give the false impression that the donor and Sonia Ekweremadu were cousins.
The defendants have been charged under modern slavery laws, which make it a criminal offense to “arrange or facilitate” a person into Britain for exploitation. This offense carries a higher potential sentence of life imprisonment than the maximum three years for illegal organ donation.
The case has highlighted the issue of exploitation of vulnerable people in the illegal organ trade. The prosecution has argued that there is an “obvious risk that those providing organs for transplantation in exchange for rewards are likely to come from the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society.”
The outcome of this trial will be closely watched, as it could have a major impact on how the UK combats trafficking and exploitation in the illegal organ trade. It will also serve as a reminder that there are significant risks involved in illegally procuring organs, and that those who take part in this activity do so at their own peril.
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