Nigerian rights activists get angry after a Nigerian politician and his wife are charged by a British prosecutor for trafficking for organ removal. I'm reacting.
Ike Ekweremadu allegedly smuggled a Nigerian boy into England and harvested kidneys for his sick daughter. Former Deputy Senator and his wife appeared in Uxbridge Judge's Court on Thursday, two days after being arrested by London police.
Prosecutors accused 15-year-old David Nwamini Ukpo of inviting him from Nigeria to the United Kingdom and donating his kidneys to his daughter. The prosecution also accused them of forging documents to make Ukupo look like 21 years old.
It's not clear if Ukupo knew the reason for the trip, but in December Ekwelle Madu's letter to the British High Commission said he would go to Britain to donate organs. It was being done.
Reportedly, Ekwellemadu's daughter is fighting kidney disease. He and his wife were arrested on their way to Turkey to procure another organ after allegedly unable to continue the process with Ukupo.
They denied the allegations on Thursday, but did not plea and were detained without bail.
A prominent Nigerian human rights activist has accused politicians on social media. Aisha Gesuf, co-founder of the Bring Back Hour Girls (BBOG) movement, tweeted, "How many people are missing involved in organ removal? This is horrifying."
Another activist, Linu Oduara, said, "They really thought they would avoid it in Britain. Nigeria was freed from Scotland when criminals took office, committed crimes. Because it's a place to go. "
"It's disappointing, to say the least, that the former Senate Vice President may be involved in organ trading," Oduara told VOA via a voice messaging app. "The image of Nigeria, our reputation continues to decline there. Our civil servants make it difficult for Nigerians to thrive there every day, we are that image of our country. It has been forced to prove that it is not. "
Ekwellemadu's lawyer, Gavin Irwin, said Thursday that he was "ridiculous."
On Friday, social media proponents promised support for Ekwellemadu, including Senator Dino Melae, a colleague who twisted "I'm standing with Ike."
Ariyo-Dare Atoye, founder of the Nigerian Liberty Center, states that it is too early to reach a conclusion.
"It is a total of the records available to the British Embassy and hospitals and can reveal whether or not due process was followed," he said. "Did the document be forged? Was there any manipulation? All of this will probably be revealed on the next postponement date. This is not something everyone can hide."
World Health According to the agency, one-tenth of the world's organ transplants are done using illegally acquired organs.
Under the British Modern Slavery Act 2015, the plot to harvest a child's organs is a serious crime, and if convicted, the perpetrator could face life imprisonment. ..
Ekweremadu's next hearing will be on July 7th.