UK Rejects Nigeria’s Request to Transfer Ike Ekweremadu’s Prison Sentence

InewsAfrica | Abuja

iNewsAfrica — The United Kingdom has declined a formal request from the Nigerian government to allow former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to complete the remainder of his prison sentence in Nigeria, a development that has reignited public debate across both countries.

According to official communication seen by UK authorities, Nigeria sought Ekweremadu’s transfer under existing bilateral frameworks that allow convicted citizens to serve time in their home countries. The request was turned down, with British officials citing procedural and legal constraints.

Ekweremadu, once one of Nigeria’s most influential lawmakers, is currently serving a prison term in the UK after being found guilty in 2023 of conspiring to harvest the kidney of a young Nigerian man. The case—one of the most high-profile legal scandals involving a Nigerian political figure—sparked global attention and intense scrutiny over ethical, legal, and human-rights issues.

The refusal from London means the former senator will remain in a UK correctional facility until he completes his sentence, despite appeals from Nigerian authorities and calls from parts of the Nigerian political class urging his repatriation.

The decision is expected to carry diplomatic weight, as it underscores the UK’s firm stance on transnational criminal justice cooperation while also raising fresh questions about Nigeria’s influence in cases involving its political elites abroad.

iNewsAfrica will continue to monitor developments in this evolving diplomatic and judicial story.

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