Mpu community in the Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State erupted in jubilation, on Wednesday, over the return of Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from a United Kingdom prison.
Mrs. Ekweremadu, who was sentenced to five years in prison in May 2023 for her involvement in an organ trafficking plot, returned to Nigeria on Tuesday.
She, her husband, and a medical doctor, Dr Obinna Obeta, were convicted by the UK court for their roles in a failed plot to harvest the kidney of a 21-year-old Lagos street trader.
The Ekweremadus were said to have lured the young trader to the UK for the purpose of harvesting one of his kidneys for their daughter, Sonia, who was suffering from a kidney disease.
The young man, however, fled in the UK and reported to the police, leading to the arrest, trial and conviction of the Ekweremadus on May 5, 2023.
The court sentenced Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison; his wife, Beatrice, got four years and six months term, while the medical doctor who acted as a ‘middleman’ in the plot, Obeta, was sentenced to 10 years and his medical licence suspended.
During a community-wide celebration on Wednessay, the President of Mpu Town Union Federated, Mr. Benjamin Chijioke, described Mrs Ekweremadu’s return from the UK jail as a significant relief for the entire community.
“Our joy as Mpu people knows no bounds. This is a great day for us. Since morning, it has been jubilation and celebration across all the villages,” Chijioke said.
He noted that many community members, especially those who relied on the Ekweremadu family’s philanthropy, were overwhelmed with tears of joy.
He added that the celebrations coincided with the community’s Orie market day, which turned the marketplace into a hub of festivity.
“We thank God and pray that He intervenes so that our illustrious son and leader, distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, will soon return home in good health,” Chijioke added. “Their absence has caused a significant setback for the community, but we remain hopeful.”
The councillor for Mpu Ward, Ogbuka Edwin, also expressed gratitude for Mrs. Ekweremadu’s return, saying the absence of the Ekweremadus had created a gap in the community.
“It feels like a public holiday here in Mpu. The news brought so much cheer. We will continue to pray until our leader and hero, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, rejoins his family,” Edwin said.
Social media platforms associated with the Mpu community have been flooded with messages of celebration and prayers for Senator Ekweremadu’s return.
One message read: “Daalu Ezinne! But I can’t wait until I see Ikeoha Global! The man who made me who I am politically—a builder of people and structures. New things will happen soon!”
Another stated: “May God’s name be praised now and always, Amen. It can only be God.”
Amidst the joy, another community member wrote: “Waoooi, good news! Thank you for everything. Dear mummy, you are highly, highly welcome, ma!”
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