The Senate on Wednesday sent a high-powered delegation to the United Kingdom to further strengthen diplomatic support for former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, who were arrested and detained in the United Kingdom over alleged conspiracy and exploitation to harvest human organ.
The Senate reached the decision after an elaborate briefing with Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ishola Sharafa, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.
The meeting, which held behind closed doors, lasted over one hour.
The emissaries to London who are drafted mainly from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by seasoned diplomat, Adamu Bulkachuwa, will depart Nigeria to London on Friday to further boost diplomatic support for Ekweremadu and his wife.
The upper legislative chamber also mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs to immediately open engagements with the British High Commission in Nigeria to seek more details surrounding the case leveled against Ekweremadu.
Addressing lawmakers, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan expressed satisfaction over consular services and diplomatic supports so far extended to Ekweremadu and his wife by the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom.
The move is the first major intervention by the Senate to mobilize necessary support for one of their own.
Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested on the 23rd of June in London by the Metropolitan Police who accused them of alleged conspiracy to harvest the kidney of a 15-year old Nigerian, David Nwamini.
However, the Nigerian Immigration Service had on Sunday faulted the 15 years of age claimed by David Ukpo, saying the National Identity Number linked to his passport application and a Birth Certificate issued by the National Population Commission showed that David was born on January 12, 2000, and is therefore 22 years old.
The two are currently remanded in London and will return to Uxbridge Court for hearing on the matter on the 7th of July.
Editor : Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie
