Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy senate president, and his wife Beatrice were convicted of organ trafficking in the UK.
After a six-week trial at the Old Bailey, the two, along with a psychiatrist named Dr. Obinna Obeta, were convicted responsible for aiding the entry of a young man to Britain with the intention of abusing him.
The jury found on Thursday that they had criminally plotted to lure the 21-year-old street vendor from Lagos to London so they could take advantage of him for his kidney.
According to The Guardian UK, Judge Jeremy Johnson will sentence the defendant at a later time.
The Old Bailey had Ekweremadu, Beatrice, their daughter Sonia, and Obeta on trial for trafficking in organs.
The Modern Slavery Act was used for the first time to convict them on Thursday.
Last year, Ekweremadu and his wife were detained in the UK for allegedly smuggling a young man into the nation for the purpose of obtaining his kidney.
The young man allegedly pretended to be Sonia’s cousin in an unsuccessful attempt to convince medical staff to perform a $80,000 private surgery at London’s Royal Free Hospital.
According to Davies, what he agreed to do was not just practical for his daughter Sonia’s medical needs; it was also exploitation and illegal. Saying that he did it out of love for his daughter is not a defense. Her medical requirements cannot be satisfied at the expense of exploiting a person in need.
Ekweremadu, who refuted the accusation, said in court that he was a victim of fraud. The man was not given a reward for his kidney, according to Obeta, who also refuted the accusation, and he was acting out of altruism. Beatrice vehemently denied knowing anything about the alleged conspiracy. Sonia didn’t offer any testimony.
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