A high-level Nigerian delegation has met with British authorities in the United Kingdom to discuss the possible transfer of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to serve his prison sentence in Nigeria. The delegation, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, held talks with officials at the UK Ministry of Justice in London.
The meeting is part of efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to facilitate Ekweremadu’s transfer from a UK prison to Nigeria. Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison in May 2023 by the Old Bailey Court for his role in organ trafficking. He was convicted alongside his wife and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, for trafficking a young man to harvest his kidney for their ailing daughter.
The Nigerian delegation was received at the Nigerian High Commission in London by Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, who is serving as the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. A video clip of the team’s visit to the UK has been circulating online. According to Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson for Minister Tuggar, the delegation explored options for Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria. “Consultations are ongoing,” he said.
Ekweremadu’s case began in June 2022 when he and his wife were arrested and charged with trafficking a young man to harvest his kidney. The court sentenced Ekweremadu’s wife to four years and six months in prison, while Obeta received a 10-year sentence. Ekweremadu’s wife has since returned to Nigeria after her release from prison in January 2025.
The Nigerian government’s efforts to transfer Ekweremadu to a Nigerian prison reflect a growing trend of countries seeking to repatriate their citizens serving prison sentences abroad. The outcome of the discussions between the Nigerian delegation and British authorities is yet to be determined, but the development highlights the complexities of international cooperation in criminal justice matters. As the consultations continue, it remains to be seen whether Ekweremadu will be allowed to serve his sentence in Nigeria.