The United Kingdom Metropolitan Police has charged a Nigerian, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Nwanneka Ekweremadu to court for conspiring to bring a child to the UK to harvest organs.
Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55, and Ike Ekweremadu, 60, both from Nigeria, are both charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
It is yet to ascertain if the Ekweremadu is the same as Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President. Checks show that the arrested couple’s names and ages are the same as that of the Senator and his wife.
Organ harvesting involves removing parts of the body, often for commercial gain and against the victim’s will.
Both have been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later on Thursday.
The child’s gender has not been made known but the police announced that the child is safe.
The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under the UK modern slavery legislation in May 2022, the force said.
The statement by the Police read, “Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
“They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today.”
“A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support.
“As criminal proceedings are now underway we will not be providing further details.”