Beatrice Ekweremadu Released From UK Prison, Returns to Nigeria

Abuja, Nigeria, January 22, 2025

Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of

former Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has regained her freedom and returned to Nigeria after being released from a United Kingdom prison where she was serving a sentence related to an organ harvesting conviction. She arrived in Abuja at the beginning of this week following her release from incarceration in the UK.

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

Mrs. Ekweremadu was convicted by a British court in connection with an organ trafficking scheme that also involved her husband and a medical doctor. According to earlier reports, the three were found guilty of attempting to bring a young Nigerian man to the UK with the intention of harvesting his kidney for transplant to their daughter.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison in 2023.

Beatrice Ekweremadu received a prison term of approximately four to six years, a portion of which she served before being released.

The third accused, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was also convicted and imprisoned for his role in the plot.

The case marked one of the first convictions under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act for organ trafficking, drawing wide international attention to issues of modern slavery, exploitation, and human rights abuses.

REACTION AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Local reactions in parts of Nigeria have been mixed. Supporters and community leaders expressed joy at Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu’s return, describing her release as a relief for her family and supporters after years of uncertainty. In her home community and among political acquaintances, her release was welcomed with celebrations and public statements of happiness, while others have raised concerns about justice, accountability, and the broader implications of the case.

WHAT'S NEXT

While Mrs. Ekweremadu is now back in Nigeria, Senator Ike Ekweremadu remains in UK custody, serving the balance of his sentence. Efforts by the Nigerian government to negotiate his transfer to serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria have reportedly been declined by UK authorities.

Official statements regarding the circumstances of Mrs. Ekweremadu’s release and any condition attached has not been publicly disclosed by UK authorities as of this writing.