The organ harvesting trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu before a UK court took a worrisome twist on Tuesday as the victim alleged that he was not notified of any plan about kidney transplant that need to be done before he was brought to the United Kingdom by the Nigerian lawmaker.
The 21-year-old Lagos street trader had accused Senator Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, of flying him to London for the purpose of harvesting his organ for their ailing 25-year-old daughter, Sonia, who has a kidney condition.
Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, Sonia, 25.
Appearing before an Old Bailey court, the victim said he was sleeping rough for three nights before he turned up at Staines Police Station in May last year pleading for help.
After jurors saw a photograph of him smiling and sharing a meal with the alleged intending recipient, Sonia Ekweremadu, the 25-year-old daughter of senior Nigerian politician, Senator Ekweremadu, the Old Bailey court heard that he ran away after doctors had established that he was not a suitable candidate for organ donor deal.
However, in a body-worn footage shown in court on Tuesday, February 21, he appeared to be crying and distressed when he walked into the police station and spoke to a woman on reception. He told the woman repeatedly he had “no papers” having been brought into the country by a man he met in Lagos.
He said at the police station;
“He carried me to hospital to remove my kidneys. The doctor said I was too young but the man said if you do not do it here he would carry me back to Nigeria and do it there.
“I don’t know anywhere, I don’t know where I am. I was sleeping three days outside around, looking for someone to help me, save my life.”
Addressing jurors, he said; “Nobody told me about kidney transplant.”
In a video-taped interview, he told police he was treated like a “slave” at the house in London where he was staying. He claimed he was told he had to go ahead with the operation in exchange for N1.2 million (around £2,000).
The victim added “I was afraid because I don’t know what they are going to do to me.”
Prosecutors also told the court that though the victim was given money, he had nowhere to stay so decided to ask for directions to a police station.
