Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has disclosed that his administration is working to facilitate the return of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, from the United Kingdom to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.
Mbah said the state government was engaging relevant Nigerian authorities to explore possible arrangements that would enable the former lawmaker to return to Nigeria while continuing to serve his sentence.
The governor made this known during an interview with BBC Igbo, where he described the circumstances surrounding Ekweremadu’s imprisonment as a tragic situation that could happen to any parent.
Ekweremadu was convicted in the United Kingdom for conspiring to facilitate the travel of a young man to Britain for the purpose of harvesting his kidney for his daughter, Sonia, who was suffering from a kidney condition.
Speaking about the former lawmaker’s situation, Mbah disclosed that his administration remained in contact with him and was appealing to Nigerian authorities to engage their British counterparts over the possibility of transferring him to Nigeria.
He said: “What happened is a test. We are still in touch with him. We are among those who are asking the Nigerian authorities to find out how they and England can ensure that Ekweremadu stays in Nigeria to serve the full sentence if they want him to stay in prison. We hope that he will be released soon.”
The governor also expressed sympathy for Ekweremadu, noting that parents dealing with serious health challenges involving their children could understand the desperation to save their lives.
According to him, “If you have never had a child of your own, you will never fully understand what a father will do to save or help his child during a time of health crisis.”
