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The Nigerian House of Representatives has appealed to the government of the United Kingdom to show some mercy when sentencing Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.
The resolution was arrived at following a motion moved by Toby Okechukwu, a lawmaker from Enugu State.
A UK court found the Ekweremadu couple guilty of conspiracy to harvest the organ of another Nigerian.
The husband and wife are expected to be sentenced in the coming days.
Moving the motion, Okechukwu said diplomatic intervention in this kind of case is normal.
‘It is a common practice in international relations for nations, including the UK, to seek relief for their citizens involved in situations such as that of the Ekweremadus,’ he said.
Read Also: How UK Police, EFCC Scuttled Ekweremadu’s Bail – HURIWA
Speaking on the motion, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House, said intervention by the House is not a justification for the charges against the Ekweremadus. He urged the UK government to consider Ekweremadu’s years of public service.
Consequently, the House resolved to urge the UK government and the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing Ekweremadu, his wife and the doctor.
Also, they urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to take all diplomatic steps and other necessary interventions regarding the travails of the Ekweremadu family.
The Eastern Updates reports that Ekweremadu could be sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in line with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 of the United Kingdom after a London court found him and his wife, Beatrice, guilty of organ trafficking.
The Eastern Updates reports that following the guilty verdicts by Mr. Justice Johnson, Ekweremadu and his wife were remanded in custody and await sentencing on May 5.
According to The Mirror, the duo faced the accusations alongside a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, and their daughter, Sonia, who was cleared of charges after the jury deliberated for nearly 14 hours.
The Ekweremadus were arrested and had been in the custody of UK authorities after they received complaints from the young man about their alleged plans to harvest his organ.
