EKWEREMADU TO SPEND CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR IN PRISON AS COURT FIXES JAN 31 FOR TRIAL

The Central Criminal Court in London, the United Kingdom, has adjourned the trial of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, from May 2023 to January 31, 2023.

Ekweremadu is facing charges over alleged organ harvesting.

The Old Bailey agreed that arguments will be heard on the 16th or 19th of December 2022 before the commencement of the trial in January.

You will recall that Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arrested on June 23 and charged with conspiracy to trafficking a person for organ harvesting in violation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Though he was absent from court on Monday, his wife who was released on bail in July and Sonia, their daughter, were present in the court.

Last week, Justice InyangEkwo of the Federal High Court Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s assets following an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has since described the court’s ruling as “hasty” and a “selective judgment”.