A high‑level delegation from Nigeria, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has commenced formal consultations in the United Kingdom aimed at securing the transfer of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his prison term.
Ekweremadu is currently incarcerated in the UK after being convicted under the Modern Slavery Act for his role in an organ‑trafficking scheme involving a young Nigerian man. His wife and a medical middleman were also sentenced.
The Nigerian team held meetings with key UK Justice and Foreign Office officials, and later visited the Nigerian High Commission in London as part of efforts to initiate a bilateral prisoner‑transfer arrangement.
Sources indicate that Nigeria formally requested that Ekweremadu be allowed to complete his sentence in Nigeria, citing humanitarian and legal considerations. The delegation is expected to present detailed documentation and legal arguments to UK authorities in the coming days.
The case has significant diplomatic implications, touching on Nigeria‑UK relations, the enforcement of international criminal justice, and the treatment of high‑profile Nigerian citizens abroad. Observers note that a successful transfer would set a precedent for future prisoner‑exchange agreements or transfer requests involving Nigerians convicted overseas.
