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Why I Sought Kidney Donor Outside My Family – Ekweremadu

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2023

A former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has told a court in London that he was advised by his doctor against seeking a kidney donor from among his family members.

Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, are currently facing charges in the United Kingdom after they allegedly lured a young man from Nigeria to harvest his organ for their ailing daughter, Sonia, who is also standing trial.

The lawmaker was last year arrested and had been in the custody of UK authorities after they received complaints from the young man about their alleged plans to harvest his organ.

According to Daily Mail, the young man, a trader from Lagos, was to be rewarded for donating a kidney to Sonia in an £80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

The Ekweremadus, however, decided to turn their interest to Turkey in search of the needed organ after the 21-year-old was rejected as unsuitable.

While cross-examining the lawmaker, Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC said, “On the question of whether a family member could, in principle, act as a donor, you decided that was not possible based on a reported conversation between your non-nephrologist brother and Dr Obeta, a non-nephrologist?”

In response, Ekweremadu said, “He would have had basic knowledge. I’m not a doctor, so if he says so, I believe him.”

But Davies said, “All you had to do, rather than rely on a second-hand account from non-nephrologists, was to ask one of the specialists you were consulting whether a family member could donate a kidney.”

Ekweremadu, however, suggested he had “limited intelligence,” a claim that was rejected by the prosecutor, who said, “It is incredible. You do not lack intelligence.”

Davies continued, “The fact is you did not even try to ask Sonia’s cousins, for example, to consider acting as a donor.

“What you are saying is you had no intention of anyone in your family – immediate or extended – stepping up to donate a kidney to Sonia.

“Far better to buy one and let the medical risk go to someone you don’t know.”

Responding, Ekweremadu said it was “not true” that he agreed to get a donor by going through agents for the task.

Davies responded, “The pattern of communication reflects none of the type of human communication and contact you would expect if you and your family had believed that (the proposed donor) was a good Samaritan.”

Ekweremadu repeated, “Not true.”

Davies asserted, “The transplant with (the donor), not having gone ahead, you and your family then immediately sought to recruit further donors for reward, transferring jurisdiction out of the UK to Turkey.

“That failed too because even that donor had not been trained properly to give the false answers when interviewed.”

The defendant dismissed the prosecutor’s claims, saying, “These are not the facts.”

Davies continued, “You did not move away from the Royal Free clinical team because they lacked expertise.

“When another donor was required you immediately sought to transfer the clinical process to Turkey.”

On why the Ekweremadus had been prepared to leave an “internationally recognised centre of excellence” in London for an unknown quantity in Turkey, the lawmaker replied Davies, saying treatment in Turkey was “cheaper”.

Mr Davies responded, “You were looking to cut corners on your daughter’s clinical outcome to save money? You were a wealthy man, senator.”

According to Daily Mail, the defendant, who owns dozens of properties in Nigeria and Dubai, and sent his children to be privately educated, denied being a wealthy man.

Davies said, “That’s not true. Think of the number of properties you own.”

Meanwhile, Ekweremadu remains in custody while the trial of his family and a medical “middleman”, Dr Obinna Obeta, at the Old Bailey continues.

Related Topics:Ike Ikweremadu Ikweremadu

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Warji Community Lauds Bauchi Govt Over 19-km Road Project

Published

8 hours ago

September 11, 2025

Editor

The Warji community in Bauchi State has commended Gov. Bala Mohammed’s administration over execution of a 19-kilometre road project in the area.

Mr Aminu Barmini, Chairman, Warji Local Government Council, said this during a project facility tour, on Thursday in Warji.

He said the construction of the road linking the state with Jigawa, was a life-changing project that reduced travel distance time, opened up and enhanced economic activities.

“Before the construction of this road, we used to travel to Gwaram in Jigawa for almost two hours but now, it is less than 15 minutes,” he said.

Barmini said the governor also initiated viable social and economic infrastructure development projects including the Warji General Hospital, erosion control and renovation of Primary Healthcare Centre, Miya.

Others are the construction of five-kilometre Burarana-Dabo road, construction of Dagu village head’s palace, Jumaat Mosque, among others.

Also, Balami Samson, a contractor, said the 150-bed capacity general hospital would be completed within one month.

“All modern equipment is being used in the construction, and once completed, this hospital will go a long way in addressing the health challenges of the people in Warji,” he said.

Mr Usman Shehu, Commissioner for Information, said the ministry initiated the facility tour to monitor projects executed by Mohammed’s administration in the state.

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Bauchi Sacks Education Officer For Sexual Harassment, Promotes 83 Others

Published

8 hours ago

September 11, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi State Civil Service Commission has dismissed a Principal Assistant Education Officer at Government College, Azare, Mr. Emos Joshua, for sexual harassment.

The Commission said the officer’s action amounted to serious misconduct in violation of Rules 0327 (xxviii and xxix) of the Bauchi State Public Service Rules.

In a statement on Thursday, the spokesperson of the commission, Saleh Umar, said the decision was reached during its 32nd plenary session held on September 11, 2025.

“The disciplinary action was taken against the officer after general disciplinary procedures had been exhausted as contained in Rules 0317 of the Public Service Rules and Regulations,” the statement read.

Umar added that during the sitting, the commission also elevated two Deputy Directors in acting capacity to the rank of Directors of Physical Planning and Development Control on grade level 16.

“Similarly, a Chief Physical Planning Officer was moved to acting capacity as Deputy Director of Physical Planning on grade level 15,” he stated.

In the same vein, 80 Nursing Officers and Nursing Superintendents were promoted to their next grades, ranging from levels 10 to 14.

The spokesperson said the decisions were based on submissions from the Bauchi State Special School Management Board, the State Public Procurement and Physical Development Board, and the Health Management Board.

Commenting on the dismissal, the Chairman of the commission, Ibrahim Muhammad, confirmed that due process was strictly followed in line with established regulations.

He stressed that the decision was not punitive but necessary to uphold discipline and integrity within the service.

“The commission remains committed to fairness and transparency in handling staff matters. The action taken against Mr. Emos is a reminder to all civil servants that professional conduct and adherence to the rules are paramount for an effective and accountable public service,” he said.

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Benue Assembly Amends Law, Renames State Varsity

Published

8 hours ago

September 11, 2025

Editor

The Benue State House of Assembly amended the law that renamed Benue State University, Makurdi, as Rev. Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi.

With the reamendment, the university would now be known as Father Adasu University, Makurdi, instead of Rev. Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi.

The latest amendment followed the debate on the report of the House Standing Committee on Higher Education during plenary in Makurdi on Thursday.

In a lead debate, the Majority Leader, Mr Saater Tiseer (APC/Mbagwa), said that the name Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, was too long.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the initial name of the university was Benue State University, Makurdi, before it was changed to Rev. Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, in December 2024.

The House also passed the bills for laws to amend the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, and the College of Education, Oju, to become degree-awarding institutions

The Speaker, Mr Alfred Emberga, who presided over the sitting, called on the Clerk of the House, Dr Bem Mela, to read the bills the third time.

Emberga thereafter said that, having been read for the third time, they were passed.

The PUNCH had reported that the school, originally known as Benue State University, was renamed in December 2024 after Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the change during the institution’s combined convocation.

Alia, who is the visitor to the university, had said the move was to honour the late Adasu, who established the state-owned institution.

Alia said, “As a way of honouring the founder of this institution, our administration has sent an executive bill to the state assembly for this University to be named after the founder, Rev Fr Moses Adasu.”

NAN