Ekweremadu to remain in custody till October 31

Ike Ekweremadu

The Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom on Thursday ordered that Senator Ike Ekweremadu be remanded till October 31, 2022.

Ekweremadu and wife Beatrice are facing charges bordering on conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

The court has already established that the alleged victim is not a minor following proof from the Nigerian government.

On Thursday, Obinna Obeta, a medical doctor in London, appeared alongside the couple.

Trial is set for 2023, but the trio will appear in court on October 31 for pre-trial.

Ekweremadu and Obeta appeared in court virtually while Beatrice, who has already been granted bail under strict conditions, appeared in person.

Ekweremadu is expected to appear virtually on October 31.

The lawmaker and his wife were arrested at the Heathrow Airport in June on arrival from Turkey.

Prosecutors had said that the couple has a daughter with a kidney-related disease and has been on dialysis for quite some time. The British authorities believe the plan was to use an organ from David Nwamini on their daughter who needs a kidney transplant.