Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu is back in Nigeria after being released from United Kingdom prison.
FreshNews.NG learnt that Mrs Ekweremadu arrived in Abuja on Tuesday.
Recall that the Ekweremadus got themselves in a big trouble in the UK after they were convicted of organ harvesting.
They had arranged to fly a young street trader from Nigeria to the UK to harvest his kidney. The kidney was meant for their daughter Sonia who was in dire need of a kidney transplant due to a medical condition.
In May 2023, a UK court sentenced Ike Ekweremadu to 9 years and 8 months in prison, Beatrice 6 years, while Dr. Obinna Obeta who facilitated the arrangement was sentenced to 10 years.
This was the first conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015 which prohibits human trafficking and exploitation including forced organ donation.
The conviction generated a lot of reactions in Nigeria and internationally. It showed the extent people would go to get medical solution for their loved ones and the serious legal and ethical consequences of such actions.
Organ trafficking is a global issue, many people in need of transplants resort to illegal means. According to a report by World Health Organization (WHO), 10% of all organ transplants worldwide involve some form of trafficking.
This case shows the importance of ethical practices in healthcare and the need for systemic reforms to address organ shortages in many countries including Nigeria.
Beatrice Ekweremadu’s return to Nigeria may re-ignite public conversation on this case and its implications for human rights, medical ethics and the judicial system in Nigeria and UK.
Her release also raises questions on what will happen to her family especially as her husband is still serving his sentence in the UK.