Former Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Ike Ekweremadu, will remain in a UK prison after the United Kingdom government rejected a request from Abuja to transfer him to complete his sentence, according to reports.
Ekweremadu is currently serving a nine-year, eight-month jail term following his 2023 conviction for plotting to harvest the kidney of a young man, a landmark case that drew global scrutiny and condemnation against modern slavery and organ trafficking.
A delegation led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, recently engaged with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to initiate Ekweremadu’s deportation, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria.
However, The Guardian UK reported that the MoJ turned down the request. Sources familiar with the decision indicated that the primary concern was Nigeria’s inability to guarantee that the former politician would continue his prison term once transferred.
A source quoted by The Guardian underscored the UK’s firm stance: “The UK will not tolerate modern slavery, and any offender will face the full force of UK law.”
The rejection means Ekweremadu is expected to serve the full duration of his sentence in a UK correctional facility.
The transfer request decision highlights the UK’s commitment to upholding its judicial outcomes, particularly in cases involving modern slavery offenses. It also reflects underlying international skepticism regarding the consistency and enforceability of prison sentences for high-profile political figures within some foreign jurisdictions.
Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, who was sentenced alongside him to four years and six months for her role in the conspiracy, was released earlier this year after serving half of her term in custody, and has since returned to Nigeria.
