The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun consultations with the United Kingdom to secure the transfer of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.
President Bola Tinubu reportedly dispatched a high-level delegation to engage with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice on the matter.
Ekweremadu was convicted in May 2023 under the UK Modern Slavery Act for organ trafficking after attempting to bring a 21-year-old Lagos street vendor to Britain for a kidney transplant for his daughter, Sonia. He was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, while his wife, Beatrice, received four years and six months and was released earlier in 2025. A medical middleman, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was handed a 10-year jail term.
The case drew global attention, sparking diplomatic talks between Nigeria and the UK and prompting renewed discussions on transplant ethics and regulatory frameworks.
Confirming the ongoing dialogue, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Alkasim AbdulKadir, told our correspondent that consultations with UK authorities are still underway.
“An appeal for prisoner exchange for him to serve the remainder of his term in Nigeria has been tabled before the United Kingdom authorities,” AbdulKadir said.
It was gathered that the Nigerian delegation — which included Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi — met with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice in London to discuss Ekweremadu’s case.
The delegation was later received at the Nigerian High Commission by Acting High Commissioner to the UK, Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu.
