Prisoner Exchange: Tinubu Sends Delegation To UK Over Ekweremadu’s 9-Year Jail Term

Closed-Door Meeting With UK Officials

According to Naija News, both ministers held a closed-door meeting with senior officials from the UK Ministry of Justice to explore possible legal and diplomatic options regarding Ekweremadu’s case.

After the meeting, the delegation was received by Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, at the Nigerian High Commission in London.

Diplomatic sources told Daily Trust that the visit forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader efforts to secure either an early release or a lawful sentence review for the former lawmaker, based on humanitarian grounds.

Nigeria Exploring Prisoner-Transfer and Compassionate Options

Officials familiar with the negotiations confirmed that the Nigerian government is considering several legal mechanisms available under UK law — including prisoner-transfer agreements, compassionate parole, or other leniency provisions.

“We are working on an appeal for a prisoner exchange that would allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence in Nigeria,” a senior Foreign Affairs official disclosed.

“Consultations are ongoing with the UK authorities,” the source added.

Background: Conviction and Sentence

Ekweremadu, a long-serving senator and three-time Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, was convicted in March 2023 by the Old Bailey Court in London, alongside his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, and Dr. Obinna Obeta.

They were found guilty of conspiring to exploit a young Nigerian man, David Nwamini, for the removal of his kidney intended for transplantation to Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia.

In May 2023, the UK court handed down sentences of:

Nine years and eight months for Ike Ekweremadu,
Four years and six months for his wife, Beatrice, and
Ten years for Dr. Obeta.

Ekweremadu’s sentence remains the longest ever imposed in the UK for an organ-harvesting-related crime.

Renewed Diplomatic Efforts

The current diplomatic engagement reflects a renewed effort by the Nigerian government to renegotiate the conditions of his imprisonment, while maintaining respect for UK judicial processes.

Government officials have not disclosed the full details of the discussions but indicated that further updates would be shared as consultations progress.

“Nigeria remains committed to upholding international law while seeking lawful humanitarian relief for its citizens abroad,” a senior Ministry of Justice official said.

Next Steps

The Federal Government is expected to continue high-level engagements with UK authorities in the coming weeks.
If approved, the transfer would allow Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian correctional facility, under existing bilateral or Commonwealth prisoner-transfer frameworks.