A high‑level Nigerian delegation met with British authorities in London 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 Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, held talks with officials at the UK Ministry of Justice. The meeting is part of President Bola Tinubu’s effort to move Ekweremadu from a UK prison to a Nigerian facility.
Ekweremadu was sentenced in May 2023 by the Old Bailey to nine years and eight months 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 a kidney for their ailing daughter. His wife received a four‑year‑six‑month sentence and was released in January 2025, returning to Nigeria. Obeta was sentenced to ten years.
The Nigerian team was received at the Nigerian High Commission in London by Acting High Commissioner Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu. A video of the delegation’s visit has been circulating online. According to Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson for Minister Tuggar, the delegation explored options for Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria, noting that “consultations are ongoing.”
The government’s push to repatriate Ekweremadu reflects a broader trend of countries seeking to bring home citizens serving sentences abroad. The outcome of the discussions with British authorities remains undecided, underscoring the complexities of international cooperation in criminal‑justice matters. As consultations continue, it is still uncertain whether Ekweremadu will be allowed to serve his sentence in Nigeria.
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