A London Court today granted Beatrice Ekweremadu, the wife of Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, both of whom have been in custody, following charges of organ harvesting slammed on them by the London Metropolitan Police.
In the last hearing at the Westminster Magistrate, Deputy Senior District Judge, Justice Tam Ikram had made it clear that the complainant, Ukpo Uwamini David was not a minor before saying he will send the matter to higher court for hearing come August 4.
But today, hearing for bail came up before Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks, who said that he has granted bail to Beatrice Ekweremadu(55) but in stringent conditions but withhold bail for Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
The former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate and his wife are facing trial in the United Kingdom for allegedly plotting to traffic Ukpo Uwamini David ( 21), to the UK to harvest his kidney for their sick daughter, Sonia.
Beatrice is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation, between August 1 last year and May 5, under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, Ike is charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
Speaking on the bail, Common Serjeant of London, Judge Richard Marks said; ‘The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions but I have refused bail to Ike.’
Ike Ekweremadu’s lawyer, Martin Hicks however said; ‘We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so. The argument will be factual denial.’ The couple are due to appear at the Old Bailey on 4 August.
