Former Nigeria’s president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has written the United Kingdom, (UK), asking for clemency for Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife convicted for organ trafficking.
Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife had been convicted for organ trafficking by the Central Criminal Court, Old Baily, London, and will be sentenced to prison in May.
However, Obasanjo pleaded with the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court, in a letter dated 3 April, 2023, to step in and guarantee that the UK government in this case balanced justice with mercy.
The former President said he was very much aware of the current travails and conviction of 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.
He said he did realise the implications of their action and he dared say, it was unpleasant and condemnable and could not be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.
The letter read in part: “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 the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy, and let the 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 and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general. Please accept the assurances of my highest consideration”, Obasanjo said.
Earlier, in the letter, Obasanjo introduced himself as a soldier commissioned into the British Army of the West African Frontier Force in 1958, and rose to the rank of a full General in the Nigerian Army, as well as becoming military Head of State from 1976 to 1979 and elected President from 1999 to 2007.
He also painted a good image of Ekweremadu as a good Nigerian who served his country with passion and currently a distinguished senator.
