Dangiwa Umar, a former military governor of Kaduna state, says he prays that the UK court honours the letter by former president Olusegun Obasanjo seeking pardon for Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president.

In June 2022, Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested and charged in court for allegedly bringing a child to the UK for organ harvesting.

The senator was remanded in custody since then, but his wife was granted bail on July 22.

In March 2023, Ekweremadu was found guilty of organ trafficking by a court.

His wife and Obinna Obeta, a doctor involved in the case, were also found guilty.

In a letter dated April 3, 2023, and addressed to the chief clerk of central criminal court, Old Bailey, Obasanjo said though Ekweremadu’s action is “unpleasant and condemnable and can’t be tolerated in any sane or civilised society”, the court should temper justice with mercy for the sake of their sick daughter.

In a statement on Saturday, Umar said Obasanjo’s letter was “timely and appropriate.

“I salute the great act of kindness and empathy by the elder statesman,” the former military governor said.

“I do not know the senator but am convinced of his good character as attested to by President Obasanjo who has earned a reputation in the resolution of international conflicts including being a member of the eminent persons group which supervised the peaceful transition from apartheid to majority rule in both South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

“I pray the court grants President Obasanjo’s plea and temper justice with mercy in its sentence of senator Ekweremadu, his wife, and Dr Obinna.

“May God heal their daughter Sonia. May he protect and provide for the young man, Mr David Nwamini.”

THE CABLE