Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, was sentenced to prison for organ trafficking, and the would-be kidney donor involved in that case, David Nwamini, stated he wanted to stay and work in the UK since “they could arrest me or kill me in Nigeria.”
When Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, 56, and the doctor-middleman, Obinna Obeta, 51, were sentenced to prison terms of 10 years and 8 months, 4 years and 6 months, and 10 years, respectively, his impact statement was read in court.
At the Old Bailey, the three were found guilty of arranging to set up a young man’s travel in order to use him for a body part.
Sonia, the 25-year-old daughter of the Ekweremadus, suffers from a serious kidney condition. The donor was found for her specifically.
According to David, he was approached with an opportunity to work in the UK, which he had always dreamed of but never thought would happen.
“He (Dr Obina Obeta) did not tell me he brought me here for this reason. He did not tell me anything about this.
“I would have not agreed to any of this. My body is not for sale.
“I worry for my safety in Nigeria. Those people can do anything. I think they could arrest me or kill me in Nigeria.
“My plan now is to work and to get an education and to play football,” David said, adding that he does not want to claim compensation from the “bad people” as it would be “cursed and bad luck”.
He also said someone visited his father in Nigeria and asked the father to get him to drop the case.
Although it is lawful to donate a kidney, it becomes criminal if there is a reward.
