Former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice may not be responsible for the alleged organ harvesting of a child, according to Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation.
Ekweremadu and his wife were detained and charged by the Metropolitan police in the UK for allegedly taking an imported child’s organs.
The pair is said to have taken a destitute 15-year-old kid from the streets of Lagos to the UK. They appeared before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court on Thursday but were granted bail.
Nigerians React Over Arrest Of Ike Ekweremadu, Wife By UK Police For Alleged Organ Trafficking
However, Ekweremadu informed the court through his attorney, Gavin Irwin, that he never arranged transportation for anyone with the aim to take advantage of them.
Fani-Kayode responded by stating that Ekweremadu should be treated as innocent until proven guilty by court.
In a Facebook post, Fani-Kayode wrote: “It is totally unacceptable and a serious crime under British law for a man to take a child into the United Kingdom for the purpose of removing its organs FOR SOMEONE ELSE’S USE.
“Under the law, a child CANNOT give its consent for such a course of action and neither can the parents give consent for such an abominable act on behalf of their wards.
“Children have rights. They are not slaves or chattel that can be bought or sold for their body parts.
See What Simon Ekpa Said About Arrest Of Ekweremadu, Wife Over Alleged Organ Harvesting In UK
“Their parents do NOT have the right to sell them off for this purpose or for any other purpose and neither does anyone have the right to buy the child or any of his or her body parts.
“Despite all this, I refuse to assume that Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife are guilty of this wicked act unless and until I see the evidence or they are proved so by a duly constituted court of law.
“There is a presumption of innocence in criminal matters and this is what I hold on to.
“I pray for the Ekweremadu’s at this difficult time and I also pray for that poor child whose organs were to be removed.
“May God grant us more sensitivity, compassion, love and kindness in this country, especially for our children.”
Follow us on Facebook
Post Disclaimer
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author and forum participants on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Anaedo Online or official policies of the Anaedo Online.