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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A United Kingdom-based doctor has been accused of conniving with the former deputy senate oresident, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, to traffic a homeless man into the UK to harvest a kidney for their daughter.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, are facing trial on trafficking and organ harvesting in the UK.
The doctor, Obinna Obeta, 50, from Southwark, South London, is charged under the Modern Slavery Act, Daily Mail reports.
Obeta, who appeared at Bexley Magistrates’ Court on 13 July, is charged with arranging the travel of 21-year-old David Ukpo Nwamini from Nigeria to the UK.
He is also accused of conspiring with 60-year-old Ekweremadu to arrange or facilitate the travel of the man with a view to him being exploited through organ harvesting.
Recall that Ekweremadu was charged by the UK Metropolitan Police with conspiracy to facilitate the travel of another person for organ harvesting.
It was alleged that the former deputy senate president and his wife, Beatrice, 55, brought the 21-year-old man from Nigeria to the UK.
Prosecutors claim they planned to have his kidney removed so it could be given to their daughter.
The man was said to have refused to consent to the procedure after undergoing tests at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, North West London.
The couple were arrested at Heathrow Airport on June 21, after arriving on a flight from Turkey. They appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 22, for a bail hearing.
The couple deny wrongdoing or that there was a criminal conspiracy, and claim no exploitation occurred.
Prosecutor, Tim Probert-Wood, said: “The case began on 5 May 2022 when the complainant presented himself at Staines Police Station and claimed he had been transported to this country for the purpose of his kidney being removed.
“He arrived on 20th February, 2022, and was taken to Royal Free Hospital where tests were conducted.
“For the purpose he was there he did not consent to the taking of his kidney.
“He returned to the house he was staying and his treatment changed dramatically.
“He described being treated effectively as a slave.”
According to Daily Mail, all three defendants, who are in custody, are due to appear at the Old Bailey, on August 4.