Trio including Nigerian senator and Southwark doctor jailed for illegal organ harvesting

A doctor, a Nigerian senator and his wife have been jailed after they were convicted of illegal organ harvesting.

Doctor Obinna Obeta, 51 from Hillbeck Close, Southwark, was jailed for helping Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 56, deceive a young man into being trafficked to the UK for illegal organ harvesting.

Obeta, who has been described as the middle man, recruited the victim who must not be named for legal reasons, and had significant communication with him. He himself was an organ recipient in 2021.

The victim, 21, from a remote village in Nigeria, was led to believe he was being brought to the UK to earn money for his family but the purpose of the trip was to have his kidney removed and then donated to the senator’s daughter, Sonia Ekweremadus. 

He was given a passport and a medical travel visa. He had previously been taken for blood tests in Nigeria which he believed were for his visa requirements.

These were instead to determine if he was a medically suitable match for Sonia.

In February last year, the victim was brought to the UK and taken to the flat of Obeta in Hillbeck Close, Southwark. 

Four days later the victim attended his first medical screening at the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street, Hampstead Heath. 

When the victim realised he was to donate a kidney the consultant picked up the fear and panic this caused him and the hospital declined the procedure.

The victim then returned to the address in Southwark. He described how the mood in the property changed significantly and he was treated as a “slave”.

A few days later he managed to escape the property, becoming homeless for around three days.

Detectives began their investigation after the victim walked into Staines police station, stating he didn’t know where he was, after sleeping rough for three days.

The victim has said he will not apply for compensation, despite the financial benefit he stood to make. 

In his victim impact statement he said he wanted to put the entire ordeal behind him. His plan is to work, get an education and play football. 

CCTV of the victim walking into Stains police station (Video: The Met)

The Ekweremadus paid a health tourism company in the UK to facilitate the medical arrangements between themselves and the Royal Free Hospital. 

Ike and Beatrice Nwanneka were arrested on a flight to London Heathrow on June 21, 2022 and Obeta was arrested on July 12, 2022 at his home address in Southwark. 

Ike was sentenced to nine years and eight months’ imprisonment and Beatrice Nwanneka was sentenced to four years and six months. They both lived in Abuja, Nigeria.

Obeta was sentenced to ten years imprisonment.

They were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday after being convicted of conspiracy to arrange travel of another person with a view to exploitation following a six-week trial. 

Julie Currie is the victim navigator programme manager at Justice and Care, a modern slavery charity.

She said: “We applaud the man’s bravery for giving evidence in the case and the tireless work of the police involved in the investigation.”

Pictured top: (L-R) Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu and Obinna Obeta (Picture: The Met)