Prosecutor tells UK court David Nwamini Fled Ekweremadu’s UK House after mistreatment
Tim Probert-Wood, prosecutor of Senator Ike Ekweremadu in the case of alleged trafficking for organ harvesting, has told a London court how 21-year-old David Nwamini, the alleged victim, fled the senator's residence and reported him to the police.
Speaking in court on Monday, Probert-Wood said Nwamini presented himself at Staines Police Station on May 5, 2022, and told the police he was brought into the country on February 20, 2022, to have his kidney removed, Daily Mail reported.
The prosecutor said Nwamini claimed he did not consent to the removal of his kidney, and when he returned to the apartment where he lived with Ekweremadu, a former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, and Beatrice, his wife, the couple began treating him as a slave.
He said: "The case began on 5 May 2022 when the complainant presented himself at Staines Police Station and claimed he had been transported to this country for the purpose of his kidney being removed.
"He arrived on 20th February 2022 and was taken to Royal Free Hospital where tests were conducted. For the purpose he was there he did not consent to the taking of his kidney.
"He returned to the house he was staying and his treatment changed dramatically. He described being treated effectively as a slave."
Probert-Wood said Nwamini had fled the house and had been homeless for three days when he turned up at the police station.
The Ekweremadu's defence lawyer said, "We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so. The argument will be factual denial."
Judge Richard Marks granted bail to Beatrice Ekweremadu, but ruled that Senator Ike Ekweremadu must remain in custody until their next court appearance on August 4, 2022.
The Judge said, "The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions, but I have refused bail to Ike."
Ms Ekweremadu is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploiting them between August 1 last year and May 5 under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, while Ike is charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person for the purpose of exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The couple were arrested on June 21, 2022.
Speaking in court on Monday, Probert-Wood said Nwamini presented himself at Staines Police Station on May 5, 2022, and told the police he was brought into the country on February 20, 2022, to have his kidney removed, Daily Mail reported.
The prosecutor said Nwamini claimed he did not consent to the removal of his kidney, and when he returned to the apartment where he lived with Ekweremadu, a former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, and Beatrice, his wife, the couple began treating him as a slave.
He said: "The case began on 5 May 2022 when the complainant presented himself at Staines Police Station and claimed he had been transported to this country for the purpose of his kidney being removed.
"He arrived on 20th February 2022 and was taken to Royal Free Hospital where tests were conducted. For the purpose he was there he did not consent to the taking of his kidney.
"He returned to the house he was staying and his treatment changed dramatically. He described being treated effectively as a slave."
Probert-Wood said Nwamini had fled the house and had been homeless for three days when he turned up at the police station.
The Ekweremadu's defence lawyer said, "We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so. The argument will be factual denial."
Judge Richard Marks granted bail to Beatrice Ekweremadu, but ruled that Senator Ike Ekweremadu must remain in custody until their next court appearance on August 4, 2022.
The Judge said, "The position is that I have granted bail to Beatrice subject to some fairly stringent conditions, but I have refused bail to Ike."
Ms Ekweremadu is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploiting them between August 1 last year and May 5 under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, while Ike is charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person for the purpose of exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The couple were arrested on June 21, 2022.
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