David Nwamini, the would-be kidney donor in the organ trafficking case that sent Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, to jail, has said he wanted to remain and work in the UK, as “they could arrest me or kill me in Nigeria”.
His impact statement was read in court, at the sentencing that saw Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, 56, and the doctor-middleman, Obinna Obeta, 51, jailed, 10 years and 8 months, 4 years and six months, and 10 years, respectively.
The three were found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiring to arrange the travel of a young man with a view to exploiting him for his body part. The Ekweremadus’ 25-year-old daughter, Sonia, has a severe kidney disease. It was for her the donor was sourced and brought to the UK.
He also said someone visited his father in Nigeria and asked the father to get him to drop the case.
Although it is lawful to donate a kidney, it becomes criminal if there is a reward. The Ekweremadu were arrested on June 21 last year as they arrived at Heathrow Airport.
