According to United Kingdom’s Central Criminal Court, the plea and trial hearing of Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife for organ trafficking have apparently been adjourned.
Ekweremadu and his wife were accused of conspiring with Dr Obinna Obeta to pay David Nwamini to donate an organ to their daughter, Sonia.
After his arrest on June 23, Ekweremadu was detained in a UK prison over the allegation.
His wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, who is on bail, had appeared at the Old Bailey for plea and directions hearing.
Ekweremadu and Dr Obinna Obeta, the third accused attended court the session by video link from Wandsworth and Belmarsh prisons.
Many reports say the defendants were not asked to make a plea and only spoke to confirm their names during the hearing.
According to Judge Richard Marks QC, a High Court judge will hear the case.
He picked a temporary trial that will commence on May 2, 2023 and last for three to four weeks.
Also, the court said it would not be sitting due to the unavailability of Sonia, whose case was established.
A court representative insisted that though the calendar of the judge was set when the couple and their co-defendant appeared before him on August 4, Sonia was not included in the hearing at that time, and that “the judge won’t be hearing the case because there’s no counsel for Sonia.”
The former deputy senate president of Nigeria has been in custody in the UK since his detention on June 23.
In order to donate the organ to their daughter who has kidney failure, the prosecution alleged that they planned to remove Nwamini’s kidney at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north-west London.
After he was examined, the man declined to give his assent to the treatment.
He was allegedly maltreated by The Ekweremadus of Willesden Green, north-west London until he “escaped” and reported to Staines police station in Surrey.
Previously, prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood had said that the case involved ‘exploitation and the harvesting of an organ.’
He said: “The case began on 5 May 2022 when the complainant presented himself at Staines Police Station and claimed he had been transported to this country for the purpose of his kidney being removed.
“He arrived on 20th February 2022 and was taken to Royal Free Hospital where tests were conducted.
“For the purpose, he was there he did not consent to the taking of his kidney.
“He returned to the house he was staying and his treatment changed dramatically.
“He described being treated effectively as a slave.’
Martin Hicks, QC, who is defending Ekweremadu, said: “We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so.
“The argument will be factual denial.”
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