The organ harvesting trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu before a UK court has taken another twist as the victim has alleged that he was not told about any kidney transplant that need to be done before being brought to the European country by the Nigerian lawmaker.
In a new turn to the case, the 21-year-old Lagos street trader had accused Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, of flying him to London to harvest his organ for their 25-year-old daughter Sonia, who has a kidney condition.
Appearing before an Old Bailey court, the victim said he was sleeping rough for three nights before he turned up at Staines Police Station in May last year pleading for help.
After jurors saw a photograph of him smiling and sharing a meal with the alleged recipient, Sonia Ekweremadu, the 25-year-old daughter of senior Nigerian politician Ike Ekweremadu, the Old Bailey court heard that he ran away after doctors decided he was not a suitable candidate.
However, in a body-worn footage shown in court on Tuesday, February 21, he appeared to be crying and distressed when he walked into the police station and spoke to a woman on reception.
He told the woman repeatedly he had ‘no papers’ having been brought into the country by a man he met in Lagos. He said at the police station;
‘He carried me to hospital to remove my kidneys. The doctor said I was too young but the man said if you do not do it here he would carry me back to Nigeria and do it there.
‘I don’t know anywhere, I don’t know where I am. I was sleeping three days outside around, looking for someone to help me, save my life.’
Addressing jurors, he said;
‘Nobody told me about kidney transplant.”
In a video-taped interview, he told police he was treated like a ‘slave’ at the house in London where he was staying. He claimed he was told he had to go ahead with the operation in exchange for N1.2 million (around £2,000).
The victim added; ‘I was afraid because I don’t know what they are going to do to me.’
Prosecutors also told the court that though the victim was given money, he had nowhere to stay so decided to ask for directions to a police station.
Giving evidence, he told jurors that he thought he was being brought to the UK to work. He said he thought Obeta had been ‘sent from God’, and only found out it was for a kidney transplant when he visited the Royal Free Hospital.
The alleged victim appeared in court today via video link wearing a light blue jumper. He was assisted by a lgbo interpreter but spoke in English.
He told how he was born and bred in a village in Nigeria, the oldest of nine children to his carpenter father and mother.
Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, Sonia, 25, and medical ‘middleman’ Obinna Obeta, 50, are charged with conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of the young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation.
The Ekweremadus, so far, deny the charge against them and the Old Bailey trial continues.
