Former Deputy President of the Nigerian senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has been sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, for the conspiracy to bring a 21 year old Nigerian male to the UK for a kidney transplant. According to Sky News, the victim was promised a £7,000 reward and had no idea he was scheduled for an organ donation until his meeting at the hospital.
The case sheds light on the illegal organ trade industry and the dire consequences it has for vulnerable individuals. The defendants were informed by Mr Justice Johnson that their offense was grave and merited neither a community sentence nor a fine.
The report further mentions that while donating a kidney is legal, offering or receiving money or other benefits in exchange for organ donation is considered a criminal act. This transplant was supposed to help save his daughter, who has a serious kidney condition.
During the sentencing, Beatrice, Ike’s wife, was also sentenced to four years and six months in prison, and Dr. Obinna, their medical accomplice received a ten-year prison term.
