Senator Ike Ekweremadu will remain in British prison till October 32, over organ harvesting charges, the Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom, has ruled on Thursday.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
However, a third individual, Obinna Obeta, who is a practising medical doctor in London, appeared alongside the duo.
A pre-trial has been scheduled for October 31 in which the senator, his wife, and Obeta would appear in court. The main trial will be held in 2023, it was learned.
“Just a few moments ago, the brief hearing took place involving the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and a third individual named Obinna Obeta,” a Channels TV reporter said.
“Surprisingly, we didn’t actually see the Senator appear in flesh as well as that third individual, the doctor. We did see Beatrice Ekweremadu in the dock. It was a very brief hearing that was over within a matter of minutes.
“What we do know is that the trial has now been set for 2023. What the judge did say is that the pre-trial will begin the week of October 31.”
The reporter said the lawmaker would appear via a video link on October 31, Olayinka said there are indications that more individuals would be arrested in connection with organ harvesting.
Ekweremadu (Enugu West, PDP) was arrested at the Heathrow Airport from Turkey in June.
The case began on May 5 when the alleged trafficked victim handed himself to the police authorities on the grounds that he was being coerced into giving his organs despite being under-aged.
However, the case came to public knowledge on June 23 after Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested by the Metropolitan Police on arrival into the UK from Turkey.
Prosecutors had said that the couple has a daughter with a kidney-related disease and has been on dialysis for quite some time. The British authorities believe the plan was to use an organ from the boy on their daughter who needs a kidney transplant.
