Inside Tinubu’s quiet push for Ekweremadu’s return: High-Level delegation meets UK officials over prison transfer

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly dispatched a high-powered delegation to London to negotiate the possible transfer of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who has been serving a jail term in the United Kingdom since March 2023.

Reliable sources confirmed that the delegation, made up of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), arrived in London on Monday for a closed-door meeting with officials of the UK Ministry of Justice.

According to those familiar with the matter, the mission’s central objective is to explore legal and diplomatic channels that could allow Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in Nigeria under existing prisoner transfer arrangements between both countries.

A senior diplomatic source revealed that discussions were ongoing “to determine the feasibility of the transfer and the terms under which such an arrangement could be executed.” The source added that the move was part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral judicial cooperation between Nigeria and the UK.

Ekweremadu, a former presiding officer of Nigeria’s red chamber, was found guilty of organ trafficking by a UK court in March 2023, alongside his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, and medical doctor, Obinna Obeta. The case, which drew global attention, marked the first conviction of its kind under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

In his ruling, Justice Jeremy Johnson sentenced Ike Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife to four years and six months, while Dr. Obeta received a 10-year term. The judge further ruled that Beatrice would serve half of her sentence in custody and the remaining portion on licence.

However, in a development that sparked renewed public interest, Beatrice Ekweremadu was released from prison in January this year and subsequently returned to Nigeria.

Sources within the Ministry of Justice hinted that Nigeria might invoke provisions of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Agreement, which allows convicted nationals to complete their sentences in their home countries if both governments consent.

While official statements from either government have not been released, diplomatic insiders say the talks represent “a delicate balancing act” between humanitarian considerations and adherence to international justice standards.

As of press time, neither the UK Ministry of Justice nor Nigerian authorities had confirmed the outcome of the meeting. However, the delegation’s presence in London signals a renewed diplomatic push by the Tinubu administration to intervene in one of Nigeria’s most high-profile legal sagas abroad.