Ekweremadu’s wife return from UK jail

The Mpu community in the Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State celebrated with great enthusiasm on Wednesday following the return of Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, the wife of former Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from a prison in the United Kingdom.

Mrs. Ekweremadu had been sentenced to five years in prison in May 2023 due to her involvement in a failed organ trafficking scheme, which also implicated her husband and Dr. Obinna Obeta, who were accused of attempting to procure the kidney of a 21-year-old street trader from Lagos.

The couple allegedly lured the young man to the UK with the intention of harvesting a kidney for their daughter, Sonia, who was suffering from kidney disease. However, the young man escaped and reported the situation to the authorities, resulting in the arrest and subsequent conviction of the Ekweremadus on May 5, 2023.

The court imposed a sentence of nine years and eight months on Senator Ekweremadu, while Mrs. Ekweremadu received a four-year and six-month sentence, and Dr. Obeta was sentenced to ten years with his medical license revoked. Upon her return to Nigeria on Tuesday, Mrs. Ekweremadu’s arrival sparked widespread celebrations in the community on Wednesday.

Mr. Benjamin Chijioke, President of the Mpu Town Union Federated, expressed that her return was a significant relief for the entire community, stating,

 “Our joy as Mpu people knows no bounds. This is a great day for us. Since morning, it has been jubilation and celebration across all the villages.” He further noted that many residents, particularly those who had benefited from the Ekweremadu family’s charitable efforts, were moved to tears of joy.

The festivities coincided with the community’s Orie market day, transforming the marketplace into a vibrant center of celebration.