Ekweremadu: Obasanjo Begs UK Court For Mercy

Kunle Awosiyan

Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has written a letter to the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court in London to temper justice with mercy over the conviction of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

The court recently found guilty Ekweremadu, his wife and a Nigerian doctor Obinna Obeta for trying to harvest the kidney of a Nigerian teenager trafficked to United Kingdom a few months ago.

The court convicted the Nigerian politician, his wife and the doctor who were desirous to harvest the organ for his ailing daughter.

However, in a letter written to the court chief clerk by Obasanjo on April 3, 2023 titled “Re: Ike Ekweremadu,” the former president said that he had known Ekweremadu for over 20 years and could testify on his character.

Obasanjo explained his relationship with Ekweremadu, starting from 1999 when he was elected the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the letter, even though Ekweremadu’s action was condemnable and unacceptable, he has contributed his quota to the socio-political development of Nigeria.

Calling on the court to temper justice with mercy, Obasanjo appealed to the court to consider Ekweremadu’s past records of good deeds and the plight of his ailing daughter.

Obasanjo’s letter reads in part: “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 for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and the 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 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.”