There are strong indications that former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice, may appear in court today instead of July 9, 2022 earlier scheduled for the matter.
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A family source said this could be possible because the prosecution team and the court might have received the advice of the British attorney-general which was expected anytime before the July 9 date.
The family source also said Oba Nsugbe SAN, QC, might be the lead counsel in the case.
Nsugbe was called to the bar in 1985 (Gray’s Inn) and was appointed a Crown Court Reader in 1999 – the youngest practitioner ever appointed to the part-time judiciary.
He became a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1986 and is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Oba Nsugbe is currently the head of Chambers at Pump Court Chambers, London.
Nsugbe has a broad international practice focusing on Africa related litigation and dispute resolution.
Ekweremadu and his wife were remanded in custody after they were denied bail by Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom.
The lawmaker and his wife are facing trial on charges bordering on human trafficking and organ harvesting.
At the last adjourned date, the lawmaker and his wife were expected to remain in custody until July 9 when the case was adjourned for hearing.
But a family source said the date might have been changed and therefore, the case is expected to come up today barring any last-minute changes.
The Metropolitan Police last week charged the couple with conspiring to arrange to bring the child to the UK to harvest his organ.
The suspects were reportedly arrested near the Heathrow Airport in London.
The Met Police said the child had been safeguarded.
The couple was also charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
But Ekweremadu, in his prepared statement, denied allegations of human trafficking for organ harvesting.
Ekweremadu’s position was contained in a British newspaper, dailymail.com.co.uk.
The paper which quoted Ekerenmadu’s lawyer, Gavin Irwin, reported: “He said at no stage has he arranged transport for anyone with intention to exploit them. His wife similarly denied the allegations in her prepared statement, the court heard.
Irwin, representing Ekweremadu, further said, “There is no question this is a serious allegation. Mr Ekweremadu is a member of the senate in Nigeria.
“He has previously held an even more senior role as deputy president of the senate. He is a member of the bar in Nigeria. He is a principal in a law firm that bears his name.
“Those issues taken together go way beyond him being a person of good character…rather that he has led a blameless life as a public servant.”
Mr Irwin added that the allegations were “nothing short of preposterous.”
Antonia Gray, for Mrs Ekweremadu, said “She has never been complicit or involved in any alleged illegal trafficking of any young person. She is a financial accountant with an unblemished record.”
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