Ekweremadu: Attorney General’s consent required for case to continue in London
Embattled former Deputy Senate President (DSP), Senator Ike Ekweremadu, for the second time in one week appeared in court in London charged with arranging to bring a child to the UK for organ donation.
Ekweremadu, Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial zone, Enugu state, in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly, today stood in the dock wearing a grey tracksuit and holding a Bible, reports AFP.
He was told his case would next be heard at Westminster Magistrates Court on 7 July.
Part of the alleged offence was committed abroad and as a result the consent of the attorney general is required for the case to continue, which was the reason for the hearing.
No bail application was made and Ekweremadu, 60. will remain in custody. He did not speak and has not been asked yet to enter a plea.
He faces a charge of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person for exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
.His wife Beatrice Nwanneka, 55, is charged with arranging or facilitating the travel of another person for exploitation and will appear in court later due to a delay in her transport from prison.
Earlier this week the Nigerian Immigration Authority denied the victim was a child.
Nigeria’s Comptroller General, Idriss Jerre, said the victim’s birth certificate and National Identity Number, which were presented during registration for his passport, showed that he was 21 years old.
In response, the Metropolitan Police in the UK said the child was 15.
