With the Federal Government inexplicably silent over the incarceration and conviction of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appears to have stepped in.
In a letter to the Chief Clerk, the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, in London, the elder statesman pleaded with him to intervene and ensure the UK government tempered justice with mercy on the matter.
With a month to go for the sentencing of the duo, and with a 10-year conviction staring the Federal lawmaker in the face, Obasanjo said the couple have learnt their lessons.
“Mr. Chief Clerk, I am very much aware of the current travails and conviction of Ike Ekweremadu and his wife in the United Kingdom resulting from their being charged with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21-year old from Nigeria to the UK in order to harvest organs for their daughter. I do realise the implications of their action and I dare say, it is unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilized society.
“However, it is my fervent desire for the very warm relations between the United Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Nigeria; for his position as one of the distinguished Senators in the Nigerian Parliament, and also for the sake of their daughter in question whose current health condition is in danger and requires an urgent medical attention, you will use your good offices to intervene and appeal to the court and the government of the United Kingdom to be magnanimous enough to temper justice with mercy and let punishment that may have to come take their good character and parental instinct and care into consideration.
“I do hope Mr. and Mrs. Ekweremadu have learnt from this distressing experience of theirs to guide their future actions or inactions so they will continue to be outstanding members of their community and will continue to contribute fully to the good of the society in particular and the nation in general.”
Obasanjo’s Letter below:
