By Peter.
The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), led by its President General Goodluck Ibem, has voiced strong support for the Federal Government’s diplomatic push to repatriate former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from the United Kingdom, allowing him to complete his ongoing prison term in a Nigerian facility. This endorsement comes amid active negotiations between Nigerian and UK officials, highlighting a blend of humanitarian advocacy and interstate cooperation.
Ekweremadu, a prominent Enugu State lawmaker who served three terms as Deputy Senate President from 2007 to 2019, was convicted in May 2023 at London’s Old Bailey under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act for orchestrating an illegal kidney trafficking plot. The scheme involved coercing a vulnerable 21-year-old street vendor from Lagos, David Nwamini, to travel to Britain as a donor for a transplant to benefit Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia, who was battling a kidney condition. Prosecutors emphasized the lack of informed consent and ethical breaches, despite the family’s defense that desperation over Sonia’s health drove the actions. Ekweremadu received a sentence of nine years and eight months; his wife, Beatrice, got four years and six months but was released early in January 2025 and has returned to Nigeria; and the involved medical facilitator, Dr. Obinna Obeta, drew a 10-year term.
On Tuesday, Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed to broadcasters that consultations with UK counterparts remain underway. “An appeal for prisoner exchange to allow Senator Ekweremadu serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria has been presented to the UK authorities,” Abdulkadir stated, underscoring the formal request under bilateral prisoner transfer protocols. President Bola Tinubu directed a senior delegation—including Tuggar and Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi—to London on Monday for direct talks with the UK Ministry of Justice, followed by a briefing at the Nigerian High Commission with Acting High Commissioner Mohammed Maidugu. Sources describe the effort as rooted in humanitarian grounds, potentially invoking compassionate parole or standard repatriation agreements, with no fixed timeline for resolution but cautious optimism for progress.
In a statement, Ibem lauded the Tinubu administration’s “compassionate approach, rooted in the values of justice and rehabilitation,” framing the transfer as a pathway for Ekweremadu’s societal reintegration post-sentence. He highlighted the delegation’s role in safeguarding Nigerian citizens’ interests and called on UK officials for swift collaboration to strengthen bilateral ties. “Senator Ike Ekweremadu deserves the opportunity to serve the remainder of his sentence close to home, where he can have access to the support of his family,” Ibem added, while stressing the South East’s respect for due process and Ekweremadu’s past contributions to national development. COSEYL, positioned as the region’s leading youth socio-political body, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s handling of the “sensitive issue” and urged all parties to prioritize open dialogue for a mutually beneficial outcome.
For its part, Ohanaeze Ndigbo—the influential Igbo socio-cultural organization—has yet to weigh in formally. Spokesperson Dr. Ezechi Chukwu told reporters, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has not deliberated on it. Hence, no response for now.” The case continues to stir debate on ethical transplant practices, diplomatic reciprocity, and the treatment of high-profile expatriates, with recent Nigeria-UK pacts on migration and justice potentially smoothing the path forward
