Mpu community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State was filled with joy and celebration on Wednesday following the return of Mrs. Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, from a UK prison.
Mrs. Ekweremadu was jailed in May 2023 for her role in an organ trafficking case but returned to Nigeria on Tuesday. She, her husband, and a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, were found guilty by a UK court of plotting to harvest the kidney of a 21-year-old Lagos trader for their daughter, Sonia, who needed a transplant.
The young man escaped and reported to the UK police, leading to their arrest and conviction. Senator Ekweremadu received a nine-year, eight-month prison sentence, Mrs. Ekweremadu was sentenced to four years and six months, and Dr. Obeta got a 10-year sentence with his medical license revoked.
The return of Mrs. Ekweremadu brought relief to the Mpu community. Speaking during the celebration, the President of Mpu Town Union, Mr. Benjamin Chijioke, described the day as unforgettable.
“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,” he said.
Chijioke added that the return coincided with the Orie market day, making the marketplace lively with festivities, and prayed for Senator Ekweremadu’s good health and eventual return, noting the family’s absence had caused a setback for the community.
Mpu Ward Councillor, Ogbuka Edwin, expressed similar feelings: “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.”
