Prosecutors in the trial of Ike Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President, are insisting that David Nwamini Ukpo, the alleged kidney donor, is 15 years old.
According to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the birth certificate and National Identity Number (NIN) slip presented by Ukpo during passport registration shows that he is 21 years old.
Amos Okpu, the NIS spokesperson, disclosed this known in a statement on Sunday.
But the prosecutor told the Uxbridge Magistrate court on Thursday that the victim was allegedly picked up off the street in Lagos by a criminal gang with the intention of organ harvesting in UK.
According to Channels Television, during the proceedings on Thursday, Ekweremadu was in the dock where he confirmed his name and date of birth.
The prosecutor had reportedly insisted that the “donor” is a 15-year-old boy and bail could not be granted to Ekweremadu because he is a flight risk.
The case was again adjourned to July 7 and transferred to the Westminster Magistrate Court to allow Suella Braverman, UK Attorney-general, determine whether the case can be tried in Nigeria or UK.
A delegation from the Nigeria High Commission in UK was said to be present in the court alongside Ekweremadu’s children.
On Wednesday, Senate President Ahmad Lawan announced that the Federal Government had hired lawyers to defend Ekweremadu.
He added that members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs will be traveling to the UK soon.
“There will be a delegation to London to see Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife. A delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate will leave in the next two days for London for that purpose,” Lawan said.
“I want to urge all federal government institutions that can do anything to ensure that justice prevails in this case, that they do so.”
The former lawmaker’s travail began when he tried to get a kidney donor for his sick daughter.
