The United Kingdom has formally rejected a request by the Nigerian government to have former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, deported to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his prison sentence, The Guardian UK reported on Monday.
Ekweremadu, 63, is currently serving a nine-year and eight-month sentence in a British prison after being convicted in 2023 for organ trafficking — the first conviction of its kind under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. His conviction resulted from an elaborate conspiracy to traffic a young Nigerian man to London for the purpose of harvesting his kidney for a transplant intended for Ekweremadu’s ailing daughter, Sonia.
Nigeria’s High-Level Delegation Meets UK Officials
According to The Guardian, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu dispatched a high-powered delegation to London on November 10, 2025, to negotiate the former senator’s transfer. The delegation was led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and held extensive talks with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Sources say Nigeria urged the UK government to grant Ekweremadu early deportation on compassionate grounds, allowing him to complete his sentence in a Nigerian correctional facility.
However, the UK Ministry of Justice rejected the request outright.
Why the Request Was Rejected
A senior official at the MoJ told The Guardian that the UK government was not convinced that Nigeria would enforce the remaining portion of Ekweremadu’s sentence if he were repatriated.
“There were no guarantees Nigeria could ensure he continued his prison term,” the source said, noting that prisoner transfers require firm assurances that sentences will be fully served.
A UK government spokesperson, responding generally, said:
“Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion, following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice.”
Another government official added that the UK maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward modern slavery and would not compromise on convictions secured under the Modern Slavery Act.
Details of the Organ-Trafficking Case
Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and their associate, medical doctor Obinna Obeta, were found guilty of trafficking a young man — identified during trial only as “C” — from Nigeria to London under false pretenses.
The conspirators claimed the man was Sonia’s cousin and had willingly agreed to donate his kidney for a fee of £80,000. However, investigations revealed that the victim was neither related nor aware of the true purpose of his trip.
In February 2022, the young man was taken to a private renal unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Despite an attempted bribery of a medical secretary, the hospital rejected the transplant after medical personnel became suspicious.
Shockingly, the hospital did not immediately report the incident to the police.
The plot unraveled only when the victim escaped and fled to the police, fearing he was in danger of being sent back to Nigeria for another forced organ removal. He told authorities he believed Dr Obeta was preparing him for a second transplant attempt.
Further investigations revealed that Obeta himself had received a kidney transplant at the same hospital in 2021 from another man allegedly trafficked from Nigeria.
Judge Describes the Case as “A Despicable Trade”
During sentencing, Justice Jeremy Johnson condemned all three defendants for participating in what he described as a heinous and exploitative crime.
“The harvesting of human organs is a form of slavery,” the judge said.
“It treats human beings and their bodies as commodities to be bought and sold.”
He named Ike Ekweremadu the “driving force” behind the conspiracy and said his conviction marked “a very substantial fall from grace” for a once-influential lawmaker and public figure.
Prison Terms and Status of Co-Defendants
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Ike Ekweremadu — sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison.
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Beatrice Ekweremadu — sentenced to four years and six months; she was released earlier this year after serving half her term and has since returned to Nigeria.
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Dr Obinna Obeta — sentenced to 10 years, with two-thirds of the term to be served behind bars.
Diplomatic Sensitivities and Nigeria’s Appeal
Nigeria’s attempt to secure Ekweremadu’s transfer was framed as a humanitarian gesture, but analysts say there is also significant domestic political interest in the case.
However, the UK’s rejection signals the government’s determination to uphold the integrity of its justice system, particularly in cases involving modern slavery and organ trafficking — crimes the UK continues to treat as serious threats to human rights.
Diplomatic observers believe the decision could strain relations between London and Abuja, especially given the high-profile nature of the convict and the political weight of the Nigerian delegation that sought his release.
With the UK’s refusal to approve Ekweremadu’s deportation request, the former Deputy Senate President will continue serving his sentence in Britain. The decision underscores the UK’s uncompromising stance on modern slavery and its broader commitment to ensuring that offenders — regardless of status — face the full consequences of their crimes.
As the case continues to stir debate in Nigeria over human rights, political influence, and the boundaries of diplomatic intervention, the UK has made its position clear: justice must take its full course.
