Goodluck Ibem, the President General of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, has supported the Federal Government’s decision to have Ike Ekweremadu, the former Deputy Senate President, complete his prison term in Nigeria.
After trying to transport a 21-year-old street seller from Lagos to Britain for a kidney transplant for his daughter Sonia, Ekweremadu was found guilty of organ trafficking in the UK.
Under the UK Modern Slavery Act, he was given a term of nine years and eight months in May 2023 and is still incarcerated; his wife, Beatrice, was given a sentence of four years and six months and was freed early in 2025.
A medical middleman, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was sentenced to ten years.
Regarding the most recent developments in Ekweremadu’s case, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson, Alkasim AbdulKadir, told Arise News on Tuesday that the Federal Government was in talks with the UK about moving Ekweremadu to a Nigerian prison.
He said, “An appeal for prisoner exchange for him to serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria was tabled before the United Kingdom authorities.”
A Nigerian delegation reportedly met with representatives at the UK Ministry of Justice, including Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Adegbite and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar. Acting High Commissioner Mohammed Maidugu later welcomed the team to the Nigerian High Commission in London.
Ibem praised the Tinubu government for showing compassion over the Ekweremadu case and urged UK authorities to cooperate fully.
Ibem said, “The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, the apex socio-political youth group in the South East geopolitical zone, wishes to express its unequivocal support and commendation for President Bola Tinubu’s recent diplomatic efforts concerning the case of our esteemed leader, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.
“We wholeheartedly back the initiative to facilitate the transfer of Senator Ekweremadu to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his prison sentence within our nation’s correctional facilities.
“The ongoing discussions and high-level meetings held by a Nigerian delegation, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General, with UK authorities underscore the commitment of the Federal Government to protect the interests of its citizens, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their predicament.
“We believe this endeavor reflects a compassionate approach, rooted in the values of justice and rehabilitation, as Senator Ekweremadu seeks to reintegrate into society after serving his sentence.”
While stressing that the South-East zone was not indifferent to the need for a fair procedure, it also made a case for the dignified handling of cases of notable figures who had significantly contributed to the development of society.
Ibem said, “We urge the UK authorities to cooperate fully with the Nigerian government regarding this proposal. Mutual understanding and diplomatic engagement will not only serve the interests of justice but also foster goodwill between our nations.
“We trust in the capability and commitment of President Tinubu and his administration to navigate this sensitive issue with the gravity it deserves. The Coalition of SoutheastYouth Leaders remains optimistic that positive outcomes will emerge from these discussions, ultimately leading to a resolution that is in the best interest of all parties involved.
“We call upon all stakeholders to keep the lines of communication open and work collaboratively towards a swift resolution. Senator Ike Ekweremadu deserves the opportunity to serve the remainder of his sentence close to home, where he can have access to the support of his family.”
On its part, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, the spokesperson for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo has not deliberated on it. Hence, no response for now.”
