The wife of a former Deputy Senate President, Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu who alongside her husband are standing trial for allegedly plotting to traffic a Nigerian into the United Kingdom to harvest his kidney for their ailing daughter has been granted bail by the court, although on stringent conditions,
Confirming the development, an impeccable source from Ekweremadu who didn’t want her name in print said the news of the bail to Lady Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu is true.
She however said her husband, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was denied bail.
Beatrice Ekweremadu, 55, together with Ike Ekweremadu, 60, allegedly trafficked the 21-year-old to London from the streets of Lagos in order to harvest his organ.
Ike Ekweremadu, a Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District in the National Assembly and Beatrice, an accountant, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, for a bail hearing, according to UK-based Daily Mail.
The wife was charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, between August 1 last year and May 5, under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
On the other hand, the Senator was charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The Common Sergeant of London, Judge Richard Marks, said: “The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions but I have refused bail to Ike.’
Prosecutors are not appealing the decision, the court heard.
Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood said previously that the case involved ‘exploitation and the harvesting of an organ.’
Martin Hicks, QC, defending Ike Ekweremadu said: “We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so. The argument will be factual denial.”
The couple are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 4 August.
0 Comments