Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, and medical “middleman” Dr Obinna Obeta, 51, were convicted guilty at the Old Bailey in March following a landmark modern slavery case.
Their victim, a destitute Lagos street trader, was transported to the UK to donate a kidney to the Ekweremadus’ 25-year-old daughter Sonia.
In fear for his life, he ran to a police station precisely a year ago to report what had happened when the Royal Free Hospital halted the private £80,000 procedure.
Mr Justice Johnson highlighted Ike Ekweremadu’s “substantial fall from grace” in televised sentencing on Friday, jailing him for nine years and eight months.
“People trafficking across international borders for the harvesting of human organs is a form of slavery,” stated the senior judge.
“It regards humans and their body parts as commodities that can be bought and sold.”
“It’s a trade that preys on poverty, misery, and desperation.”
He told the defendants, “You each played a part in that despicable trade.”
Concerning the victim’s well-being, he stated, “He would have faced spending the rest of his life with only one kidney and without the requisite funding for the required aftercare.”
He went on to say that the dangers had not been adequately conveyed, and there had been no consent “in any meaningful sense.”
During the court, the victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, stated that he had no idea what was planned until he was transported to a hospital in north London for an initial appointment.
“I would never (have) agreed to any of this,” she said in court.
“My body is not up for sale.”
He expressed concern for his own safety as well as the safety of his family in Nigeria, who had been visited and ordered to “drop” the lawsuit.
“I can’t bear the thought of returning to Nigeria,” he added.
“These people are extremely powerful, and I am concerned about my family.”
Even though I am currently living in the United Kingdom, I am aware that I must exercise caution.
“I have no family or friends here.”
“I’m having to restart my life.”
“I’m concerned about my family in Nigeria, but I’ve been told that my father has been visited and that the case in the UK has been dropped.”
He told officers that claiming recompense from the “bad people” would be “cursed and bad luck.”
He explained, “My plan now is to work, get an education, and play football.
It is the first time someone has been convicted of an organ-harvesting conspiracy under the Modern Slavery Act.
Scotland Yard declined to comment on whether additional charges would be made, but stated that the inquiry was ongoing.
In recent years, police have reported an increase in the number of modern slavery cases, with just a small proportion involving organ harvesting.
Human trafficking for the purpose of organ removal is relatively rare in the UK, but what we have seen since the victim’s bravery is that this is now not the only investigation of that nature taking place in London,” Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy told the PA news agency.
“Although organ harvesting accounts for a very small portion of modern slavery and human trafficking, we are now seeing more people come forward.”
“The victim in this case, a very brave young man, was exploited because of his vulnerable economic circumstances by people who were powerful, wealthy, and who exercised control and dominance over him by bringing him into the UK for the purpose of stealing his kidney.”
“Their motivation was to obtain a kidney for their daughter, with no regard for the process, no regard for aftercare, and no regard for the victim of the modern slavery offence at all.”
“My message to the public is to be on the lookout.
“Modern slavery is prevalent in all of our London communities, whether in labour exploitation, nail bars, car washes, or the sex trade industry.”
“If anyone is lurking in the background, controlling them, or exerting some kind of dominance over people, please report any suspicion.”
“It might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, allowing us to move forward with an investigation and prosecution.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the team and their accomplishments,” he continued, “but we always put the victim first.”
“I’m proud of the victim’s bravery in coming forward, which will encourage others to do the same.”
While donating a kidney is legal, it becomes illegal if there is a monetary or other substantial benefit in exchange.
According to the prosecution, the young man was offered up to £7,000 and the prospect of a better life in the UK.
The defendants attempted to persuade doctors at the Royal Free Hospital that he was Ms Ekweremadu’s cousin, despite the fact that they were not connected.
The victim was photographed eating a meal with Sonia as part of the conspiracy, jurors were told, in order to portray the false impression of a family bond.
However, doctors at the Royal Free Hospital were concerned about the arrangement, citing the donor’s “incongruous” relationship with the recipient as well as their “disparity.”
When the transplant try failed, Ms Ekweremadu’s family, who possess £6 million in property and have an address in Willesden Green, north-west London, went to Turkey to look for other prospective donors, according to the court.
An investigation was initiated when the victim fled London and slept rough for days before coming into a police station in Staines, Surrey, more than 20 miles away, screaming and in distress.
He informed police that he fled in fear for his life after learning of a plot to transport him back to Nigeria for the procedure after the transplant in London failed.
Further investigation revealed Ike Ekweremadu, Nigeria’s deputy Senate president, as the “sponsor” of the young man’s trip.
Ike and Beatrice Ekweremadu were apprehended on a journey to Heathrow on June 21, last year, after stepping off the plane with 30,000 US dollars.
A search of Obeta’s Old Kent Road house in south London turned up a forged declaration claiming the victim and Sonia were biological relatives.
A search of the defendants’ phones found a slew of communications describing the failure of the organ transplant plan.
Sonia became ill in December 2019 while studying for a master’s degree at Newcastle University.
Obeta was Ike Ekweremadu’s brother’s former medical school classmate who had himself received a kidney transplant at the Royal Free Hospital.
His donor was also from the Lagos street market and knew the victim in the case.
The defendants denied conspiracy to plan or aid another person’s travel for the purpose of exploitation, claiming they felt the victim was acting “altruistically.”
Sonia Ekweremadu was found not guilty by the jury and sat in the public gallery while her parents were sentenced.
