The Federal Government’s diplomatic efforts to transfer former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who was convicted in the UK for organ trafficking, to a Nigerian custodial centre to serve the remainder of his sentence have divided top South-Eastern leaders, with some alleging the move is politically motivated to boost President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election chances, while others prioritize the humanitarian aspect.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has initiated a high-level diplomatic move, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General, to repatriate former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from the UK, where he is serving a nearly ten-year sentence for organ trafficking. This effort, aimed at allowing Ekweremadu to serve the remainder of his sentence in a Nigerian facility, has ignited a sharp division among leaders of top South-Eastern groups.
Critics, like the President of the Igbo National Council, question the timing and political motivation of the move, suggesting it’s designed to secure influential Igbo support for President Tinubu’s 2027 ambition and expressing fear of political retribution upon his return. Conversely, groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo support the move, arguing that Ekweremadu deserves repatriation and rehabilitation, regardless of any potential political benefit, while noting the effort is also spurring the revival of the decade-old Nigeria–UK Prisoner Transfer Agreement.