Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy senate president, appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court in London on Thursday to answer to charges brought under the country’s Modern Slavery Act.
According to a BBC story, the 60-year-old Ekweremadu stood in the dock at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court holding a bible and wearing a grey tracksuit.
According to the article, no bail request was filed, and Ekweremadu will stay in detention until his subsequent court appearance on July 7 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The article also stated that the prosecution of the case would need the attorney general’s approval because a portion of the accused offense was allegedly committed outside of the United Kingdom.
Ekweremadu’s wife Beatrice reportedly petitioned the court for permission to appear by his side for her defense because she hasn’t seen him since the hearing last Thursday, but her plea was denied.
According to the prosecution, David Ukpo, who said he was forced to give his kidney to the senator’s daughter, is just 15 years old. According to the court, David was allegedly picked up off the street in Lagos some time ago by a criminal organization with the goal of obtaining his organs.
As a result of the court’s arguments that Ekweremadu is a powerful individual, a flight risk, and that the case concerns a child and modern slavery, he was remanded in custody.
The case has been postponed until July 7 at Westminster Magistrate Court so that Suella Braverman, the UK Attorney General, can decide whether it will be heard there or in Nigeria.
The Senator’s two adult children were in the public gallery, along with a sizable entourage from the Nigeria High Commission.
The Senate had announced on Wednesday that a delegation will be visiting Ekweremadu and his wife.
After an Abuja legislative meeting held behind closed doors, Senate President Ahmad Lawan made this statement. He added that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs would shortly be sending representatives to the United Kingdom.
“A delegation will visit Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in London. In the next two days, a delegation from the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations will go for London with that goal, according to Lawan.
