Presidential hopeful under the Labour Party, Peter Obi, says he is standing with former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and his family after their arrest in the United Kingdom on charges of human trafficking and organ harvesting. “My family and I are with the Ekweremadu’s over their travail.  We join all men of goodwill in praying for the healing of their daughter and commit them into God’s hand for justice to be done,” Mr Obi tweeted on Friday morning. 

Mr Ekweremadu and his wife, Nwanneka were arrested on Thursday by British authorities under the Mordern Slavery Legislation and have since been arraigned before a Magistrate court. 

“Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting,” Metro Police said in a statement. 

Mr Ekwerenmadu refutes the charges, stating the David offered to donate his organ to his ailing daughter, following which he arranged for his travel to undergo the medical procedure.

The news of the arrest is being met with mixed reactions by the Nigerian public, especially since a letter surfaced, indicating that the senator informed the UK office of the medical process to be undergone by  Ukpo David, the victim, who is now with police authorities in the UK. 

Although reports say the victim is a minor who is unable to legally consent to the donation of his organs, per British laws, other accounts claim David is a 21-year-old who claimed to be underaged in order to obtain asylum in Britain after his kidneys were found unuseful for the sick Ekwerenmadu.

The case has been adjourned till July 7 for continued trial while the Ekweremadus were refused bail by the court. They face a life sentence if the court finds them guilty.