IKE EKWEREMADU: "HAVE MERCY," URGES OBASANJO IN A LETTER TO A UK COURT

Olusegun Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo, a former president, has written to the chief clerk of the Central Criminal Court in London urging him to balance justice with mercy in relation to the conviction of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy president of the Nigerian senate.

In order to get a kidney for their sick daughter, Ekweremadu and his wife, together with Nigerian physician Obinna Obeta, were recently found responsible for an attempted organ harvesting from a Nigerian who was transported to Britain.

Nonetheless, Obasanjo wrote in a letter to the Chief Clerk of the Court dated April 3, 2023, "Re: Ike Ekweremadu," said even though Ekweremadu's action was condemnable and unacceptable, he has contributed his quota to the socio- political development of Nigeria, adding that his punishment should consider his past records of good deeds and the plight of his ailing daughter.

Ike Ekweremadu has made his share of contributions to Nigeria's sociopolitical development, the statement "Re: Ike Ekweremadu" stated. It also added that his punishment should take into account his history of good actions and the situation of his sick daughter.

Obasanjo's letter reads in part: "Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can't be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.

"However, it is my fervent desire for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.

"I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressingbexperience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general."