Following the remand of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom (UK), the Ebonyi State Government, the home State of the alleged victim of organ harvesting, David Okemini Ukpo, said it stands with Ekweremadu’s family in their trying time.
While the name on the alleged victim’s international passport is David Ukpo Nwamini, his home State government which says it is reaching out with the family identified him as David Okemini Ukpo.
Ekweremadu had facilitated the travel of Ukpo to the UK for kidney donation to his daughter, Sonia, who is reportedly suffering from kidney failure.
The former Deputy Senate President and his wife Beatrice were however arrested and detained by the Metropolitan Authority of UK for allegedly trafficking Ukpo to the UK for organ harvesting.
Speaking on the issues, Ebonyi State Government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, said: “While we urge the UK Government to act progressively and meticulously and critically look at the intention (Mens rea) and the minds of the detained family and please give them the benefit of the doubt, we enjoin the public especially those with shades of opinions and surge of anxieties to remain calm as we hope to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“The State Government is reaching out to the family of David Okemini Ukpo from Ebonyi State, whose information to the Metropolitan Authority of UK orchestrated the criminal charge incidented against the Distinguished Senator and his wife.
“The State Government stands with Senator Ike Ekweremadu at this trial moment and hopes that the truth and nothing but the truth shall guide the outcome of the matter.”
Also, a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Ugbala to the British High Commission Abuja and Nigeria High Commission, London said Ukpo was not a minor as the Metropolitan earlier reported.
According to the statement, Ukpo’s younger brother, the alleged victim is 25 years of age while his international passport bears the age of 22 years.