Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has come under fire from the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, for his remarks on the trial of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
According to Anaedoonline.ng, Ekweremadu is currently being tried in the United Kingdom for allegedly conspiring to make it easier for someone else to travel for organ harvesting.
The former deputy senate president was accused by UK prosecutors of arranging for the removal of a 21-year-old man’s kidney so that their ill daughter might get it.
Malami Reveals Why FG Won’t Interfere In Ekweremadu’s Trial
Malami stated last Thursday in remarks to State House reporters that the Nigerian Government will not get involved in the legal dispute involving Ekweremadu. Nigeria would only offer legal aid if the legislator requested it, he continued.
Ohanaeze responded by criticizing Malami for declaring that the Federal Government will not meddle in Ekweremdu’s case or anything judicial in a statement released on Sunday by its spokesman, Alex Ogbonnia.
Once the government demonstrates its political resolve to address the crisis, according to the Igbo organization, there is no diplomatic way to save the situation.
Ohanaeze reminded Malami of how Nigeria used her full diplomatic influence in late 2018 and early 2019 to secure the release of Zainab Kila, a Nigerian woman, after 124 days in a Saudi Arabian prison on charges of drug trafficking.
UK Court Postpones Ekweremadu’s Case Until October 31
It was mentioned that the President had instructed the AGF and other important government agencies to get involved in Kila’s case, which ultimately led to her release.
Although Nigeria has long-standing friendly relations with the UK, Ohanaeze urged the government to aid transfer the case there and ensure Ekweremadu’s release.
The statement read in part: “We believe that Ekweremadu’s case should not be different, especially when Nigeria enjoys longstanding cordial relations with the UK, and all the individuals involved in the UK case are Nigerian nationals.
“We are curious that the AGF is making reference to Nigeria’s Child Rights Act more than a month after the UK Court ruled that the donor is not a child.
Organ Harvesting: Court Grants Wife Bail, Detains Ike Ekweremadu
“One would expect Nigeria to feel scandalised by the initial contempt by the British authorities in discountenancing an official document of Nigeria on the ‘donor’s’ age in the first place and feel disrespected by the continued refusal to grant Ekweremadu bail for a clearly bailable offence.
“We reckon that Nigeria could never give the same treatment to a British parliamentarian of Ekweremadu’s pedigree.
“Ohanaeze believes that Ike Ekweremadu has served Nigeria meritoriously in various capacities while in the Senate as the Deputy President of the Senate; and the Speaker of the Economic Community of West Africa States, among others, and was decorated with the service honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic.
“The Nigerian government and indeed all Nigerians should know that a measured indignity to Ike Ekweremadu, an illustrious Igbo and a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a sad denouement to Nigeria and indeed entire Africa.
Organ Harvesting: Court Approves Ekweremadu’s Wife’s Bail
“We urge the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Muhammadu Buhari and Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Nigeria High Commission in the UK, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to burnish their diplomatic channels in ensuring that Ekweremadu and his wife get the desired assistance by transferring the case to Nigeria.”
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