Lawmakers in Nigeria have appealed to the UK justice authorities to “temper justice with mercy” over the sentencing of a Nigerian politician found guilty of organ trafficking.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife and a medical “middleman” were convicted in March for organ-trafficking plot, after they brought a 21-year-old man to the UK from Lagos.
Their sentencing is due on Friday.
The speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, described Ekweremadu as a “good man” with no prior convictions, while pleading for leniency.
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) parliament has also written a letter to the UK authorities seeking clemency for the convicted politician.
Local media in Nigeria cited a letter by the Ecowas Speaker addressed to the chief clerk of the Old Bailey criminal court in London.
It was said to note that although Ecowas “stands against” the crime for which Ekweremadu had been convicted, it “believes that lessons have been learnt”.
The letter also described Ekweremadu as “a major asset to the Ecowas region”. (BBC)
