Ike Ekweremadu
Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate
In office
5 June 2007 – 9 June 2019
PresidentDavid Mark
Bukola Saraki
Preceded byIbrahim Mantu
Succeeded byOvie Omo-Agege
Senator for Enugu West
In office
3 June 2003 – 5 May 2023
Preceded byBen-Collins Ndu
Succeeded byOstia Ngwu
Personal details
Born (1962-05-12) 12 May 1962
Amachara Mpu, Eastern Region, Nigeria
(now Amachara Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria)
Political partyPeople's Democratic Party (PDP)
SpouseNwanneka Ekweremadu
Children4
Residence(s)Abuja, Nigeria
Alma materUniversity of Nigeria
University of Abuja
ProfessionLawyer, Politician

Ike Ekweremadu (listenⓘ) (born 12 May 1962) is a Nigerian politician and a lawyer who hails from Enugu State and served in the Senate of Nigeria for Enugu West from 3 June 2003 to 5 May 2023 .[1][2][3] He is a member of the People's Democratic Party, and was the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate for three (3) consecutive (6th, 7th and 8th) senate.[4][5] On 23 June 2022, Ekweremadu and his wife were charged in the UK with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21 year old into the UK in order to harvest organs.[6] He was found guilty on 23 March 2023 at the Old Bailey.[7] On 5 May 2023, he was sentenced to nine years and eight months imprisonment.[8][9]

Early life

Ike Ekweremadu was born at Amachara Mpu in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, and is of Igbo origin. He holds both bachelor's and master's degree in law from the University of Nigeria, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He also holds Doctor of Philosophy degree in law from the University of Abuja, Nigeria.[10][11][12]

Political appointments

He was appointed as the Executive Chairman of Aninri Local Government Council on the platform of the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) in 1997 and won the Best Council Chairman of the year, in 1997.[10][13]

Senatorial career

The Guardian and erstwhile Federal Commissioner of the Nigerian National Human Rights Commission [NHRC] Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko advocacy visit to the Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu

On 12 April 2003, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate.[14] In September 2003, as Vice Chairman of the senate committee on Information, Chief Ekweremadu stated that the senate would make a serious investigation into allegations of bribery leveled by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.[15] Relations between Nasir El-Rufai and the senate continued to be hostile, and El-Rufai was eventually charged with corruption in 2008.[16][17] In 2005, Ike Ekweremadu was beaten in the race for President of the Senate of Nigeria by Senator Kenechukwu Nnamani.[18]

In July 2006, as spokesperson for the Southern Senators’ Forum, Ekweremadu denied charges that they had made an agreement to return power to the North in the 2007 elections.[19] In September 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo asked the Senate to review a report by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that laid charges of fraud against Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.[20] Ike Ekweremadu promised to establish a committee of inquiry whose report would be submitted to the Senate, although he noted that impeachment would be difficult since it would require a 2/3 majority.[21]

Ekweremadu was returned in the 29 April 2007 Nigerian National Assembly election, and elected to the position of deputy senate president. He was given the job of handing out committee chairmanship positions allocated to the southeast zone, making decisions that were unpopular with leaders such as Senator Chris Anyanwu, who failed to get the positions they wanted.[22] In July 2007, Ekweremadu was instrumental in defusing objections to the controversial nomination of Ojo Maduekwe to a ministerial position.[23][24]

When President Umaru Yar'Adua’s Principal Private Secretary, David Edevbie, was allegedly indicted in September 2009 in a British court for corruption and money laundering, Ekweremadu refused to take a position, stating that he did not know the facts.[25] In September 2009, Ekweremadu was named co-chairman of a committee to conduct the primary elections for the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for Anambra State.[26]

Senatorial election 2011

Ekweremadu was reelected as Senator for Enugu West in the April 2011 elections, receiving 112,806 votes. The closest runner-up was the candidate of the Peoples for Democratic Change (PDC), Jackson Ezeoffor, who got 7,522 votes.[27]

He was re-elected in the 2015 senate election.

Senatorial election 2019

On 23 February 2019, Ekweremadu was re-elected as senator representing the Enugu West senatorial district For the Fifth Consecutive time having polled 86,088 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mrs Juliet Ibekaku-Nwagwu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who polled 15,187 votes.[28]

Following his election, Ekweremadu indicated he would retire from the Nigerian Senate by not running for a further term in 2023.[29]

On 11 June 2019, Ekweremadu lost his bid to become Deputy Senate President of the Nigerian 9th Senate. Ekweremadu contested against Ovie Omo-Agege who scored 68 votes to emerge Winner.[30] In the early hours of Tuesday,[31] he returned his official cars.

ECOWAS

In September 2009, he was appointed to lead the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ad hoc committee to work for the return of constitutional order in the Niger Republic.[32] He was elected First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and emerged the Speaker of the regional parliament in August 2011.[33]

Attack in Nuremberg, Germany

On 17 August 2019, while attending the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organized by Ndi-Igbo Germany in Nuremberg, Ekweremadu became the victim of a violent attack when members of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB stormed the venue of the event and began to question Ekweremadu about the killings of Igbos when the Nigerian army staged Operation Crocodile Smile[34] and Python Dance.[35] They also questioned Ekweremadu about his purported role in the proscription of IPOB in Nigeria. The situation soon degenerated to the extent that Ekweremadu was physically dragged out of the venue, assaulted and pelted with eggs. He would later announce that he got away from the venue with little injuries. The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu issued a statement on the attack on Ekweremadu calling it a "polite warning" while at the same time warning other Igbo governors of a possible similar treatment.[36] The four suspects were arrested and convicted of physical assault and sentenced to 20 days of hard labor without any option of fine.[37]

2022 UK organ-harvesting conviction

On 23 June 2022, Ekweremadu was charged alongside his wife, his daughter and Dr Obinna Obeta with conspiring to arrange the travel of a 21 year-old from Lagos into the UK in order to harvest organs.[38][39][40][41][42][43] On 23 March 2023 Ekweremadu, his wife and Dr Obinna Obeta were convicted of conspiring to exploit the man for his kidney. Prosecutors told the Old Bailey trial that the victim was brought to the UK in 2022 to provide a kidney in an £80,000 private transplant at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Prosecutors said that the victim was offered up to £7,000 and a job in exchange for traveling to the UK.[44] The prosecution had confirmed the maximum sentence in the organ harvesting case is one of life.[45] The organ was to be removed and given to the couple's daughter - she was cleared of the same charge.[45] On 5 May 2023, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months imprisonment . Meanwhile, Obeta was sentenced to ten years imprisonment and Ekweremadu's wife was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment.[8]

Awards and honours

  • CFR, Knight of the Good Shepherd, Ikeoha Ndigbo.[46]
  • Rotary Club’s Outstanding Citizen of the World 2017.[47]
  • Dr. Kwame Nkurumah Africa Leadership Award (2005).[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Ekweremadu at 51 - a profile in grace". Vanguard News. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  2. ↑ Joseph Nkosi (25 June 2022). "Ike Ekweremadu Biography, Age, Wife, Daughter, Career and Net Worth". The Nation.co.za. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Organ-trafficking plot Nigerian politician and wife guilty". BBC News. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  4. ↑ Fashagba, Joseph Yinka; Ajayi, Ola-Rotimi Matthew; Nwankwor, Chiedo, eds. (2019). "The Nigerian National Assembly". Advances in African Economic, Social and Political Development. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-11905-8. ISBN 978-3-030-11904-1. ISSN 2198-7262. S2CID 211384008.
  5. ↑ Khadijat Lawal (23 June 2022). "Things you should know about Ekweremadu, lawmaker and lawyer arrested for organ harvesting". Daily Trust. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "Two people charged with conspiracy offences linked to allegations of organ harvesting". Metropolitan Police. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  7. ↑ "Organ-trafficking plot Nigerian politician and wife guilty". BBC.
  8. 1 2 "Nigeria: Kidney-plot politician Ike Ekweremadu jailed". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  9. ↑ Goodwin, Nimi Princewill,Allegra (5 May 2023). "Nigerian senator jailed for nine years in UK organ harvesting plot". CNN. Retrieved 4 October 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 Ogbonnia, Chiedozie Alex (18 May 2013). "Ekweremadu at 51 – a profile in grace". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  11. ↑ Tony Adibe (16 May 2022). "After 20 years in Senate, Ekweremadu eyes Enugu Govt House". Daily Trust. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  12. ↑ This Day (2017). "Ekweremadu: A Stabilising Force in Senate". This Day.
  13. ↑ Cyril (10 May 2022). "Ekweremdu @ 60: bringing Robust Experience on the table". The Sun. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "Shady Deals". Newswatch Communications Limited. 8 June 2003. Archived from the original on 25 April 2006. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  15. ↑ "Senate Resolves to Probe FCT Minister's Bribery Allegation". Vanguard (Nigeria). 18 September 2003. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  16. ↑ "Profile: Mallam Nasir el-Rufai". BBC News. 7 September 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  17. ↑ "Nigeria ex-minister is wanted man". BBC News. 22 December 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  18. ↑ "Nnamani Emerges Senate President". This Day Online. 5 April 2005. Archived from the original on 26 April 2005. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  19. ↑ "Power shift pact, an insult – Southern senators". The Daily Sun. 5 July 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  20. ↑ "Obasanjo Can't Declare VP Post Vacant- Nigeria Court | Voice of America - English". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  21. ↑ "Olusegun Obasanjo accuse de fraude son vice-Président , l'un des favoris à la présidentielle de 2007" (in French). Afriqu'Echos Magazine. 11 September 2006. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  22. ↑ "How S/East senators have fared". Saturday Champion. 14 September 2009. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  23. ↑ "Senate screens Agusto, Odey, Ruma 4 others • Coast appears clear for Maduekwe". The Daily Sun. 12 July 2007. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  24. ↑ "Upgrading of Enugu Airport - Before the Drums Roll Out". Daily Champion. 23 November 2007. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  25. ↑ "Senators see no evil". TIMBUKTU MEDIA. 13 September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  26. ↑ "Anambra Guber: PDP Rakes in N115m From Nomination Forms". Leaders & Company Limited. 12 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  27. ↑ "Why I endorsed Chime, Ekweremadu's re-election bid- Mark". 27 February 2011.
  28. ↑ "Ekweremadu wins 5th Senate term". 25 February 2019.
  29. ↑ "Ekweremadu's decision to quit: Better late than never". 19 May 2019.
  30. ↑ "Breaking: Ekweremadu loses bid to become Deputy Senate President". Oak TV Newstrack. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  31. ↑ "JUST IN: Ike Ekweremadu returns official vehicles". Oak TV Newstrack. 11 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  32. ↑ "Ekweremadu Heads Ecowas Committee In Country". Daily Trust. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  33. ↑ "Ekweremadu at ECOWAS". 17 August 2011.
  34. ↑ "Army begins Operation Crocodile Smile IV, deploys troops in Rivers, others". 26 October 2019.
  35. ↑ "Operation Python Dance Archives".
  36. ↑ "Ekweremadu Confirms Attack on Him by IPOB Members in Germany". 17 August 2019.
  37. ↑ "IPOB members who attacked Ekweremadu convicted in Germany". The Sun Nigeria. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  38. ↑ "UK court denies Ekweremadu, wife bail over child trafficking, organ harvesting". The Guardian Nigeria. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  39. ↑ "UK Police Arrest Ike Ekweremadu, Wife For Organ Harvesting". Channels Television. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  40. ↑ "Alleged organ trafficking: Ekweremadu, wife risk long jail term if convicted". Punch Newspapers. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  41. ↑ "Ekweremadu: International passport of organ donor reveals he's 21". Vanguard News. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  42. ↑ "Ekweremadu, Wife Denied Bail by UK Magistrate's Court". YouTube. Arise News. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  43. ↑ "Nigerian couple charged with plotting to get child to UK to harvest organs". Reuters. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  44. ↑ "Nigerian senator jailed for nine years in UK organ harvesting plot". CNN. 5 May 2023.
  45. 1 2 "Organ-trafficking plot Nigerian politician and wife guilty". BBC News. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  46. ↑ "Home".
  47. ↑ Dennis Agbo (29 November 2017). "Ekweremadu bags World's Outstanding citizen award". Vanguard.
  48. ↑ Sufuyan Ojeifo (12 May 2014). "Ekweremadu: Praxis of persistent, consistent loyalty". Vanguard.
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