Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has returned to Nigeria nearly two years after serving a prison sentence in the United Kingdom.
Beatrice arrived in the country on Tuesday, January 21, landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, where she was received by friends and relatives. Her return follows the conclusion of a legal process that began in 2022.
Mrs Ekweremadu was convicted alongside her husband for her role in an organ trafficking conspiracy that attracted global attention. While Ike Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison as the principal actor, Beatrice received a four years and six months jail term.
The Ekweremadus were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a 21-year-old street trader from Nigeria to the UK with the intent of harvesting his kidney for their daughter, Sonia, who suffers from chronic kidney disease. The case was prosecuted under the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Also convicted in the case was Obinna Obeta, described as a medical middleman, who is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence in the UK.
While Beatrice has now returned to Nigeria, her husband remains in a UK correctional facility to complete his sentence. Their daughter, Sonia, who was cleared of all criminal charges during the 2023 trial, is still undergoing medical treatment for her condition.
Under UK law, individuals convicted of non-violent offences are typically eligible for release on licence after serving half of their custodial sentence, which explains Beatrice Ekweremadu’s release and return home.
