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Tag: ekweremadu

  • Ekweremadu: Court dismisses motion seeking to vacate orders releasing Ukpo’s biodata

    Ekweremadu: Court dismisses motion seeking to vacate orders releasing Ukpo’s biodata

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, dismissed an application filed by David Ukpo, seeking an order setting aside the July 1 and 6, 2022 orders for the release of his biodata to Sen. Ike Ekweremadu in a UK court.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, held that the applicant, the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO), that filed the motion on Ukpo’s behalf, lacked the legal right to institute the case.

    Justice Ekwo held that the provision of Article 3 (e) of the preamble to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009 (FREPR 2009), under which EDOSCO filed the suit, cannot be said to have granted any person without legal personality to sue or be sued in the court.

    “It is the averment of the counsel representing the applicant, Bamidele Uche Igbinedion Esq., that he is one of the lawyers in the law firm of Dele Igbinedion Chambers.

    “That this application is to protect the applicant’s human rights upon being instructed by Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO) on behalf of the applicant (Ukpo).

    “Going by this averment, it is clear that the applicant in this case is Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO).

    “The counsel for the applicant knows this but cleverly avoided to state so on the face of the application and rather depose, to this fact in the affidavit in support,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EDOSCO, on behalf of Ukpo, had filed the motion on notice brought pursuant to Orders 14 Rules 10, 26, Rules 1, and 2 (1), and 34, Rules 4, and 7 (2) (a) of the FHC (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 (FHCCPR 2019); Sections 36 (1) and 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    The applicant sought an order setting aside the proceedings and the ruling delivered by the court on July 1, 2022 In suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2022.

    He also sought an order setting aside the proceedings and the order of the court made on July 6, 2022.

    He equally sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, and the 1st to 5th respondents, or any other person howsoever described, acting for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), from executing of further executing the July 2022 rulings delivered July 1 and 6, 2022.

    Alternatively, the applicant prayed the court to bar them from breaching of further breaching Ukpo’s rights to privacy guaranteed by Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.

    But Ekweremadu and Beatrice, through their counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the application.

    They argued that Ukpo, who was taken to the UK sometime In 2022, could not have briefed anyone as his whereabouts was unknown.

    Besides, they argued that there was nothing before the court to show that the said minor Ukpo) briefed EDOSCO.

    Citing previous cases to back the arguement, they submitted that those cases cited did not deal with a situation where a third party purportedly instructs a counsel to appear for them in a suit.

    “In this case, the applicant on record did not instruct anyone but rather it was EDOSCO, a third party, that instructed counsel, as has been revealed in their affidavit in support, which is an issue before the court,,” they said.

    NAN reports that Justice Ekwo had, on July 1, 2022, ordered the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC), Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Stanbic IBTC Bank, United Bank for African (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (1st to 5th respondents respectfully), to release Ukpo’s biodata to the Ekweremadus in UK court.

    The judge ordered that all information, including his Bank Verification Number (BVN), should be released for Ekweremadus’ defence in the UK court over alleged organ harvesting.

    Justice Ekwo had, on July 6, 2022, directed the NIMC to immediately release the biodata of Ukpo to the AGF for onward transmission to the UK court.

    The court issued the order following a request to that effect by NIMC and in response to the request of the convicted couple to defend themselves in a London court.

    The order followed NIMC’s refusal to obey the earlier order of the court.

    Ekweremadu and wife had, in the application dated and filed on June 27, 2022, by Awomolo, dragged the the respondents to court.

    The couple were, on June 23, 2022, remanded in the UK police custody after they were arraigned before the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate the travel ofUkpo, alleged to be a minor, for organ harvesting.

    Despite their denial, Ekweremadu and his wife were convicted and sentenced to prison in May 2023.

    While Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years imprisonment for organ trafficking, his wife was slammed with four years and six month jail-term.

    The Medical Doctor, Obinna Obeta, who was said to have conspired with them, got 10 years imprisonment.

    Meanwhile, Ekweremadu’s wife was, in January, released from the UK prison after serving her jail-term.

    Delivering the ruling, Justice Ekwo agreed with the argument of the Ekweremadus’ that the prayers on the face of the motion paper were not prayers for the enforcement of fundamental rights.

    Counsel cannot be allowed to file what he pleases and attempt to bring same under a sue generis procedure.

    “If the applicant was interested in enforcing his fundamental rights, counsel ought to have instituted a fresh action under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009,” he said.

    The judge said that the prayers on the motion paper had become academic and do not require any answer nor can the court grant same.

    “The information required for which this court gave order has been utilised as the respondents/applicants (the Ekweremadus) stood trial and were convicted in May 2023,” he said.

  • Ekweremadu’s son, ex-Gov’s daughter, make Enugu commissioners list

    Ekweremadu’s son, ex-Gov’s daughter, make Enugu commissioners list

    Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State on Friday appointed 15 commissioner nominees including Chief Ike Ekweremadu’s son, Lloyd, and ex-Gov Sullivan’s daughter, Ada Chukwu.

    Their nominations are contained in a list sent to the State House of Assembly by the state Governor, Mr Peter Mbah which was read on the floor of the House by the Speaker, Uche Ugwu on Friday in Enugu.

    Also in the list which was signed by the Secretary of state government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia were a veteran broadcaster, Aka Eze Aka, Prof. Ndubueze Mba,  Mrs Ngozi Eni, Prof. Sam Ugwu, Chika Ugwoke and  Dr Kingsley Ude.

    Others are former commissioners Prof. Emmanuel  Obi and Deacon Okey Ogbodo as well as Mrs Ugochi Madueke, Dr Malachy Agbo, Gerrald Otiji, Nathaniel Urama and Prince Lawrence Ezeh.

    Onyia, in the letter, said this was not the complete list and appealed for their speedy consideration.

    “While this may not be the exhaustive list, I’m optimistic that this request will receive your usual expeditious consideration,” he appealed.

  • Aside UK court, FG also after Ekweremadu – Ohanaeze

    Aside UK court, FG also after Ekweremadu – Ohanaeze

    The Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has accused the Federal Government of also being after the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu aside the

    Ohanaeze’s spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia berated the Nigerian Government over the travails of  Ekweremadu in the United Kingdom, UK.

    A UK court had sentenced Ekweremadu to nine nine years in prison for organ trafficking and harvesting plot.

    However, Ogbonnia accused the Federal Government of doing nothing to help Ekweremadu.

    A statement by Ogbonnia reads: “They did not treat him like someone who has served meritoriously in this country.

    “Rather, while he was facing the travails, the federal government came out with charges and allegations of corruption and seized his properties.

    “This is a man who has been around you, walked with you for years and when he needed your help, they were busy talking about auctioning his properties.

    “All those things indicated that it was not only the UK court that was after him, but the FG was also after him.”

  • Organ harvesting: Obasanjo writes UK court on conviction of Ekweremadu, wife

    Organ harvesting: Obasanjo writes UK court on conviction of Ekweremadu, wife

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed to the British Government to temper justice with mercy over the conviction of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, for organ harvesting.

    Obasanjo made the appeal in a letter dated April 3, 2023, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta by the Former president’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi.

    The letter was addressed to the Chief Clerk, the Central Criminal Court, London.

    The former president appealed for clemency for the Nigerian couple.

    Obasanjo called on the clerk to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy.

    He sought for punishment that might have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

    Obasanjo, who admitted to the implications of the Ekweremadus’ action, said that it was unpleasant and condemnable and could not be tolerated in any sane or civilised society.

    He asked the united kingdom to consider the very warm relationship between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He urged the UK to consider the daughter in question whose current health condition was in danger and required an urgent medical attention.

    “It is with great pleasure that I write in respect of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who I have known for over two decades.

    “Within this period, I have followed and watched, with keen interest, Ike Ekweremadu’s inspiring career which traversed private legal practice and public administration.

    “I recall, with fond memories, the beginnings of our political and social relationship at the outset of our collective quest for democratic rebirth for our fatherland.

    “During my administration as a democratically-elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, Ike Ekweremadu and I had close relationship and interactions as staunch members of our political party, the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “Within this period of his service in the Nigerian Parliament, he has served as Deputy Senate President of the Senate and has headed so many Committees.

    “I truly cherish his God-fearing, dispassionate, moderate and pan-Nigerian approach to national issues and developments, in our multi-ethnic, multi-religious geo-polity.

    “He dedicates himself to the service of God and humanity and he continues to play visible roles in national development.

    “Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter.

    “I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.

    “However, it is my fervent desire that for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention.

    ” You will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

    “I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community,” Obasanjo said.

  • Ekweremadu: Nigerian laws should protect citizens from exploitation – Lawyer

    Ekweremadu: Nigerian laws should protect citizens from exploitation – Lawyer

    A Lagos-based Legal Practitioner, Mr. Jide Ologun, on Friday called for stronger institutions and implementation of  Nigerian laws to protect citizens from all forms of exploitations for a  better nation.

    Ologun, a constitution lawyer, made the call while speaking with NAN in reaction to the  conviction of the  former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu by a UK Court

    Ekweremadu, his wife, and one other, were found guilty of attempted organ harvest on a Nigerian trafficked to Britain to provide a kidney for his ailing daughter.

    A statement from the British  Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed the conviction.

    Ekweremadu (60), his wife Beatrice (56), and Nigerian doctor Mr.Obinna Obeta (51), were convicted by a British court for conspiring to exploit a young man trafficked to London.

    “This is the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act,” he said.

    The lawyer told NAN that until Nigerians began to realise there would be consequences for their actions, the society would not be saner.

    He said that Section 15 subsection 5 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), stipulated that the state shall abolish corrupt practices and abuse of office.

    “A veritable tool for accomplishing that is the enforcement of our law and the rule of law states that nobody is above the law,” he said.

    “When people begin to realise that there are consequences for actions, then it will help us to start fighting corruption and abuse of office in the land,” Ologun said.

    Highlighting some of the lessons Nigeria could draw from the conviction, Ologun said that criminal justice ecosystem rested on three pillars of investigation, diligent prosecution, and committed judiciary.

    He explained that with the Rule of Law given premium space, nobody was  above the law as the conviction of the lawmaker would serve as a bedrock for the mindset of service for office holders.

    “This means, it does matter the office you hold in the land, if you flout the laws of the land, there shall be consequences and that is the example the UK is setting and some other countries of the world.

    “And by extension, even those who have not started constituting nuisance to the society will learn from this and it therefore has a preventive impact on the society.

    “Again we have to use the laws of the land to protect the citizens from exploitations.

    “We can see the young man that the UK laws are seeking vehemently to protect because from the evaluation of the law, that action turned out more to be exploitations, the organ harvest and the laws of the United Kingdom frown at it like some other countries.

    “So, the basic things here is that if we don’t implement our laws, they remain lame but if we implement them, they become effective and that will help us to sanitise our society and put the nation on the path of development.”

    According to him, the fact that Nigeria does not implement its laws does not mean some countries do not implement theirs.

    Ologun said that law implementation was the only way Nigeria could build a strong system that would help in sanitising the society.

    The lawyer added: “We just have to wait for the final verdict on this case.

    “We have followed how the prosecution has gone, it has been thorough, focused on issues, even when the Nigerian influence tried to bring political angle to it, the justice system was not distracted from focusing on issues.

    “Former governor of Delta State could not be processed through Nigerian criminal justice mill, but was arrested in UAE, extradited to the UK, prosecuted and jailed 13 years for specific crimes.

    He said that Nigerians were awaiting the verdict pronouncement which would be given in later date by the UK Court.

  • Court fixes date to rule on Ekweremadu’s plea against his seized property

    Court fixes date to rule on Ekweremadu’s plea against his seized property

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has fixed Jan. 25 for ruling on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s application, seeking an order setting aside the Nov. 4 interim forfeiture order on 40 landed property linked to him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Thursday after Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who appeared for Ekweremadu, and the EFCC’s lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, argued their case for and against the application.

    Justice Ekwo had, on Nov. 4, granted the anti-graft agency’s ex-parte motion, seeking an interim order of forfeiture of some property of Ekweremadu, who was former deputy debate president.

    The judge, who granted the motion, ordered the agency to publish the interim forfeiture order of the property in a national daily within seven days.

    The judge direct anybody who had interest in the forfeited property to indicate within 14 days of  the publication on why the property should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

    NAN reports that Ekweremadu’s eldest child, Lloyd; Anambra government and a company, Uni-medical Healthcare Limited had, on Dec. 5, appeared in court as parties interested in the seized property.

    Lloyd, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1242/2022 and filed by Chief Awomolo, prayed the court for an order setting aside the Interim forfeiture order on his father’s property and companies.

    Lloyd, in a four-ground argument, said that the facts In support of the the EFCC’s ex-parte originating motion “deliberately and fraudulently omitted very critical facts/evidence, which negate the granting of the application.”

    He argued that the motion which the anti-graft agency commenced the action was filed in absolute bad faith.

    According to him, the originating motion ex-parte was an abuse of judicial process, oppressive, intimidating and unfair to the parties interested in the property forfeited in the interim.

    He said, “the originating motion ex-parte was initiated with the expectation that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu and other persons interested in the property be denied of their right to fair hearing.”

    Also in its application, the Anambra government said one of the property listed in the interim order of forfeiture granted by the court belonged to the state.

    The state government, through its counsel, Chuks Igbinedion, told Justice Ekwo in the affidavit to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government that “the property listed as No. 1 in Schedule “A” in Page 2 of the interim order granted on 4th day of November, 2022, known as No 14/16, Charles Street, GRA Enugu” belonged to the state.

    The lawyer said the property neither belonged to Sen. Ekweremadu nor his wife, Beatrice, including Power Properties Ltd, their private company.

    Besides, Uni-medical Healthcare Limited, in its affidavit to show cause, urged the court to discharge the interim order made against “the property in No. 7 to Schedule “A” of the application.”

    The firm’s Regional Manager, Mr Onyebuchi Michael, averred that the company was the legal owner of the property at Plot 680 and 681, Independence Layout, Enugu in Enugu State “referred to as 23, Umunana Street, Independence Layout, Enugu State.”

    He said the company bought the property from Power Properties Nigeria Limited in the sum of N300 million in August 2021 and the perfection of the title was completed on March 24, who he said predated the EFCC’s application dated and filed on July 27.

    They all prayed the court to set aside the interim order and dismiss the EFCC’s application

  • Ekweremadu : It’s selective amnesia Judgement, Ohanaeze tells FG, says you’ll hear from us soon

    Ekweremadu : It’s selective amnesia Judgement, Ohanaeze tells FG, says you’ll hear from us soon

    The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Saturday, described as “hasty” and a “selective judgement”, an interim forfeiture of 40 landed assets belonging to a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Ohanaeze said Ekweremadu, who is being prosecuted for alleged organ harvesting in the United Kingdom, should be given the opportunity to defend himself.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja had ordered the interim forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s assets following an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    However, Ohanaeze in a statement issued and signed by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, said though there are several allegations of corruption cases pending in the EFCC, the urgency and selective judgement in the case of Ekweremadu is curious.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo stands on a moral probity to state that a hasty exparte motion filed by the EFCC on a man who is undergoing some travails in the United Kingdom falls short of ethical standards and natural justice.

    “We maintain that Sen. Ike Ekweremadu should be given the opportunity to defend himself on his properties; and if found wanting should surely face the consequences.

    “We are aware that there are several allegations of corruption cases pending in the EFCC, but the urgency and selective judgement in the case of Ekweremadu is not only curious but indeed true to type.

    “Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on all the Nigerian legal luminaries of goodwill to intervene against gradual steps towards totalitarianism.

  • BREAKING: Court orders NIMC to supply Ekweremadu’s ‘organ donor’, Ukpo’s biodata to Malami

    BREAKING: Court orders NIMC to supply Ekweremadu’s ‘organ donor’, Ukpo’s biodata to Malami

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to supply the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) with the certified true copy (CTC) of biodata information of David Ukpo for onward transmission to the UK.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order following an omnibus application made by Muazu Mohammed, counsel for  NIMC, to the effect.

    The former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and wife, Beatrice had, in the application dated and filed on June 27 by their lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, sued NIMC and four others.

    Others mentioned in the suit are the Comptroller General (C-G), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Stanbic-IBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively.

    The couple were, on June 23, remanded in the UK police custody, after they were arraigned before the  Uxbridge Magistrate Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate the travel of Ukpo, alleged to be a minor, for organ harvesting.

    They, however, denied the allegations and the court adjourned till July 7 for hearing.

    Ekweremadu also appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court on June 30 where he was denied a bail.

    In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2022, the couple prayed the court for an order directing all the defendants to supply them with the CTC of Ukpo’s biodata in their care for the purpose of facilitating the criminal investigation and tendering same to establish their innocence with respect to Ukpo’s age in the criminal charges against them before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court.

    Justice Ekwo, on Friday, granted the couple’s prayers by directing all the defendants to release the CTC of Ukpo’s biodata to the Ekweremadus.

    But when the matter came up today,  Awomolo told the court that NIMC was yet to comply with the court order.

    The senior lawyer expressed concern that failure to obey the order of the court would give a setback to court judgment.

    “As ministers in the temple, court has given a judgment, ours is to ensure it is followed,” he said.

    Responding, Mohammed said NIMC was reluctant to release Ukpo’s biodata because it wanted to protect its system.

    “It is not that the first respondent (NIMC) is not ready to comply. We have been talking with applicants’ counsel since the day of judgement,” he said.

    “What is the difficulty you are facing in complying with that order,” the judge asked.

    “The difficulty is that we want to protect the system. If we comply with this judgment, the system will suffer in the future my lord,” he said.

    Mohammed said although NIMC had reached 90 percent compliance with the order, the commission was constraint to release the biodata to the applicants because of the Act which set up the agency.

    He said the law does not allow the commission to release an individual biodata to another individual.

    The lawyer stressed that if this was done because the applicants were highly-placed persons, this might be abused in future.

    The judge, however, said that the order was not made because the applicants were high-placed.

    He said the judgment was made for the whole of the country, saying it could have been an ordinary Nigerian making the application and that the court is there to protect everyone.

    “If you need an order of court to carry out the judgment, it is a simple application,” Ekwo added.

    Mohammed, therefore, made an omnibus prayer, urging the court to direct the agency to supply the biodata information of Ukpo to the AGF.

    Awomolo did not oppose the application.

    “We agree that the document be transmitted to the AGF for onward transmission to the UK,” he said.

    In his ruling, Justice Ekwo ordered NIMC to supply the information of biodata of David Ukpo’s national identification number which is in its care to the AGF for onward transmission to the UK.

    “This is the order of this court,” he said.

    The judge also warned the lawyer against making use of social media to discuss court matters

    “When matter is in court, you must be careful how you deploy social media about court matters,” he warned.

  • Ekweremadu: Kinsmen demand due process in alleged ‘organ harvest’ investigation

    Kinsmen of Sen. Ike Ekweremadu have demanded that due process be followed in the investigation of the alleged ‘organ harvest’ charge proffered against him and his wife by British authorities.

    The group under the auspices of Ikeoha Mpu Pacesetters League, made the call in a statement on Thursday in Enugu by its Coordinating Chairman, Mr Chijioke Ezekwe.

    Ezekwe also called on the Federal Government, African sub-regional institutions, and the Igbo community to ensure that justice was done in the matter.

    Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice were recently arrested by the Specialist Crime Team of the Metropolitan Police in London for alleged conspiracy to harvest the organ of a child.

    The duo had been in custody since their arrest and subsequent charge to a London court, a situation which had elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians.

    However, Ezekwe said the lawmaker who had shown uncommon empathy to the less privileged needed not to be vilified but given benefit of doubt.

    He expressed concern over the social media attack, trials, blames, and hasty judgment on the lawmaker and his family.

    “We, therefore, pray that at this point, Nigerians should wear their thinking cap to discern the intentions of a caring parent for his dying daughter.

    “We should not forget in a hurry, Ekweremadu’s track records in socio-political cum cultural development of the African sub-region.

    “A man with little faults, who co-exists freely with friends, foes, and oppositions to make sure that positive results are achieved deserves a benefit of doubt in a moment like this,” he said.

    The coordinating chairman said that he was optimistic that the outcome of the investigation would be favourable to the lawmaker and his wife due to their good intensions in the matter.

    “We, therefore, urge the Federal government, ECOWAS, African Union, Nigerian Senate, Igbo communities both home and in the diaspora to impress on the British authorities to ensure that due process is followed in carrying out their investigations on the case.

    “We stand with Ekweremadu and his family and will remain so till the end of this case.

    “May the Almighty God grant our daughter and sister Ms. Sonia Chinonso Ekweremadu divine healing,” Ezekwe said.

  • Ekweremadu, wife sue NIMC, NIS, UBA, others over organ donor’s claim

    Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, have sued the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and others over the controversy surrounding David Ukpo’s real age.

    Others mentioned in the suit are the Comptroller General (C-G), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Stanbic-IBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc as 2nd to 5th respondents respectively.

    Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife were, on Thursday, remanded in the UK police custody, after they were arraigned before the  Uxbridge Magistrate Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate the travel of Ukpo, alleged to be a minor, for organ harvesting.

    The couple, however, denied the allegations and the court adjourned till July 7 for hearing.

    But in an originating summon marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/2022, dated and filed June 27 by their counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, the Ekweremadus prayed the court for an order directing the NIMC to supply them with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the biodata information of David Nwamini Ukpo.

    The applicants said Ukpo’s National Identification Number (NIN):19438077110, which is in the possession of the agency, should be produced for the purpose of facilitating the criminal investigation and tendering same to establish their innocence with respect to Ukpo’s age in the criminal charges against them before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court.

    They also sought an order directing the NIS C-G  to supply the applicants with the documents and application form of David Nwamini Ukpo in the possession of the 2nd respondent presented for the issuance of International passport No. BO0569974 for the purpose of assisting criminal investigation and tendering same before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, UK  until July 7 in the alleged criminal charge brought against the applicants.

    They also sought an order of court directing the Stanbic-IBTC Bank to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 0032551834 maintained by its customer, Ukpo, with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants with respect to his age in the criminal charges filed against the applicants.

    They sought an order of court directing UBA to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 2195739574 maintained by Ukpo with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants.

    Awomolo said that the application was brought pursuant to Order 3, Rule 1 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2019, Sections 6 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.

    The senior lawyer, who gave 20 grounds why the prayers should be granted, said the 1st applicant (Ike Ekweremadu) is a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, representing Enugu West Senatorial District.

    According to him, the 2nd applicant (Beatrice) is a chartered accountant, civil servant and the wife of the 1st applicant.

    “The applicants have a daughter named Sonia Ekweremadu, who is suffering from kidney failure and the applicants have been managing it for about five years.

    “The said daughter of the applicants urgently needed kidney transplant to save her life.

    “David Nwamini Ukpo, offered to donate one of his kidneys for the daughter of the applicants if his kidney is compatible with that of Miss Sonia Ekweremadu.

    “David Nwamini Ukpo informed the applicants that he is Twenty One (21) years of age having being born In the year 2000.

    “The 1st applicant supported the visa application of David Nwamini Ukpo to the United Kingdom with a letter to the British High Commission in Nigeria, explaining the purpose of the visit i.e to enable him undergo medical examination in the United Kingdom so that the donor and Sonia Ekweremadu get the best of medical attention.

    “After conducting various medical tests, the Royal Free Hospital in London decided that the said David Nwamini Ukpo was not a suitable donor because his kidney is not compatible with that of Sonia Ekweremadu,” he said.

    According to Awomolo, Ukpo was then asked to return to Nigeria but rather than do so, he approached the authorities in the United Kingdom for protection from being returned to Nigeria.

    “David Nwamini Ukpo told the United Kingdom police that he is fifteen years of age contrary to the information supplied to the applicants by the same David Nwamini Ukpo.

    “The applicants verily believe that  Ukpo was actually 21 or more having regards to the public records in the custody of the respondents.

    “The applicants were arrested by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom on June 21 for the allegation that they brought a 15-year-old child (a minor) to the UK to harvest his organs.

    “The applicants were charged before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, United Kingdom on the 23rd of June 2022 for offences of conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

    ‘”The court denied them bail and they are presently in the custody of UK authorities.

    “The applicants require documents from the respondents to assist in the fair criminal investigation and as facts In their defence to establish their innocence of the allegation In the charge and to prove that David Nwamini Ukpo is not a minor and Indeed consented to the medical examination in the United Kingdom.

    “The said David Nwamini Ukpo is presently in care in the custody of British Authorities and he cannot be accessed by the applicants.

    “The documents being sought to be handed over to the applicants will support the applicants in their defence and establish their innocence of the charges brought against them.,” he said, among others

    The lawyer said the application was made in the interest of justice.

    Also, Bright Ekweremadu, the elder brother of the lawmaker, in the affidavit deposed to, said Ukpo informed the couple that he was 21 years old, having being born in the year 2000 and was ready to help Sonia.

    Justice Ekwo fixed July 1 for hearing of the matter.