Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, the wife of Senator Ike Ekeremadu, has been granted bail in the United Kingdom.
The former Deputy Senate President and his wife were arrested and are facing trial in the United Kingdom for allegedly trafficking a man, whose age has been established to be 21, to the United Kingdom in order to harvest his kidney for their daughter.
Beatrice was reportedly charged under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation between August 1 last year and May 5, while Senator Ike was charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
Beatrice was granted bail under strict conditions by the court. Her husband, Senator Ike, however, had his bail application denied.
Judge Richard Marks, Common Serjeant of London, stated in a publication:
I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions, but I have refused bail to Ike.Prosecutor Tim Probert-Wood previously stated that the case involved "exploitation and the harvesting of an organ," which is why they are not appealing the decision.
He stated;
"The case began on May 5, 2022, when the complainant appeared at Staines Police Station and claimed he had been transported to this country to have his kidney removed.
"He arrived on February 20, 2022, and was taken to Royal Free Hospital for testing.
"He did not consent to the removal of his kidney for the purpose for which he was there.
"When he returned to the house where he was staying, his treatment drastically changed.
"He described being treated as if he were a slave."
Martin Hicks, Ike Ekweremadu's lawyer, stated:
"We categorically deny any exploitation or intent to exploit.
"The argument will be one of denial of facts."
The couple is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey on August 4th. "