London’s Central Criminal Court, also known as the Old Bailey, has once again denied bail to former Senate Vice President Ike Ekweremadu, who is on trial for alleged organ trafficking.
The court at a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday delivered its verdict denying bail on the grounds that he was a flight risk and would flee the country.
Lawyer argues that Ekweremadu will not escape
In the bail application, Ekweremadu’s lawyer had argued that the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) and the Federal Attorney General had written to the court that Ekweremadu was not a flight risk.
Defense counsel also argued that a guarantee was given to produce him in case he posed a flight risk and that the Nigerian High Commission in the UK had also given the option to tag Ekweremadu electronically to monitor his movement.
As for the certification of Ekweremadu’s character by respected Nigerians and organizations, his lawyer also argued that the lawmaker had proven himself a caring and responsible father and could not escape London, abandoning his wife and ailing daughter.
The defense further told the court that they had guarantees and guarantees of almost half a million GBP from 11 people to secure Ekweremadu’s release on bail.
Stating that Ekweremadu was a highly respected and well-known public figure, his defense also referred to Ekweremadu’s participation in some global humanitarian courses.
Court denies bail
Countering the defense lawyer’s position, the prosecution insisted that Ekweremadu was a flight risk, arguing that as a holder of international passports from two other countries, the lawmaker could escape to any of the other countries besides Nigeria.
The indictment also cited the EFCC’s July 18, 2022 letter signed on behalf of Chief Executive Officer Abdulraheed Bawa by Deputy Director of Operations Abdulkarim Chukkoi and referred to the asset forfeiture proceedings against Ekweremadu in the High Court. Abuja Fed.
In the ruling, the judge who rejected the bail request said: “I am fully satisfied that a flight risk remains,” noting that bail would not make much of a difference “as the trial is just over a month away.” .
In case you missed it
Let us remember that on June 23, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice Ekweremadu, were arrested in the United Kingdom for an alleged crime of organ harvesting.
However, on 28 July the court granted bail to Ekweremadu’s wife.
Ekweremadu’s lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had previously claimed that the EFCC cut short the former Senate vice president’s bail request in July.
Among other things, Awomolu also accused the EFCC of dishonestly obtaining an interim asset forfeiture order against the lawmaker by withholding vital information from Judge Inyang Ekpo.
However, the EFCC dismissed the allegations through their lawyer, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), saying that it was a mere coincidence.
Ekweremadus’s trial will now begin on January 31, 2023.