Senior Nigerian lawyers have advised the United Kingdom to handle the suspected organ trafficking case involving former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.
The Specialist Crime Team of the Metropolitan Police in London detained Ekweremadu and his wife for allegedly conspiring to take the organs of a kid who is currently in protective custody.
The SAN who reacted to the situation are Yusuf Ali, SAN; Ahmed Raji, SAN; Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN; and a professor of Law at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Prof Joy Ezeilo,
“You cannot assume that we run the same common law. They are more advanced than we are in terms of lawmaking. Unless we know the laws they will be relying on, it may be difficult to give a professional opinion. Here, we arrest people and await evidence. There, the pieces of evidence are already on the ground before arrests are made. I wouldn’t know what they got. We all have to be cautious in this matter. “ Yusuf Ali, SAN said
On his part, Ahmed Raji, SAN said in view of the letter to the UK embassy that is viral in the media, Ekweremadu should be given benefit of doubt because he seemed not to have intended to commit any crime.
Even though the learned SAN admitted not having knowledge of the UK, he said intention is what makes an action a crime.
Raji said, “I have not seen the English statutes but I recall that it must be an offence that would come with a guilty mind – that you are setting out to commit a crime.
“But from the letter which Senator Ekweremadu wrote to the Embassy, it is clear that he was not trying to engage in something illegal.
“He made it very clear that this guy was going there to assist with a procedure, and that clearly shows that it was not something done secretly
“He didn’t say the purpose of taking the boy there is A and went to do B over there. In fact, from that letter, I think he deserves the benefit of the doubt.”
As for Chief Ozekhome, SAN, he believes the situation is a set up against Ekweremadu because according to him, Ekweremadu’s letter to the British embassy is clear as to why the former Deputy Senate President was going to the UK.
“I think some people are trying to set up that man. With the letter that we saw written to the British Embassy, it was clear why he was going to London and why the young man was also going to London.” Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said.
“I trust the UK government. They are very progressive and meticulous in terms of criminal investigation and with regards to trafficking issues, they have a lot of experts.”
Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Expresses Hope that Ekweremadu will be given fair trial by the United Kingdom.
She said, “I trust the UK government. They are very progressive and meticulous in terms of criminal investigation and with regards to trafficking issues, they have a lot of experts
