Sen. Ekweremadu: "Matter Has Taken A Different Dimension" --Chuks Akunna

Sen. Ekweremadu: "Matter Has Taken A Different Dimension" --Chuks Akunna

The Executive Director of The Authority Newspapers, Mr. Chuks Akunna has expressed a deep concern over the dimension the Sen. Ike Ekweremadu’s matter in the United Kingdom was taking. Mr. Akunna made this known during the Newspaper Review segment of Kaakaki programme on Africa Independent Television, Friday. Mr. Akunna stressed that going by the action of the United Kindom prosecutors who continued to insist that David Ukpo is 15 years despite the fact that his international passport shows that he is 21 was an affront to the integrity of Nigerian Immigration Service and indeed the Nigerian government.

Akunna further stated that the failure by British authority to respect the information contained in the International Passport of Ukpo shows how we have lost our dignity among other countries of the world.

He said: “The matter on ground is beginning to take a different dimension. This case is already beyond Sen. Ike Ekweremadu. It is the Nigerian state that is already on trial in the United Kindom and if our leaders are not seeing it from that perspective then there is a problem”.  

It could be recalled that the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Thursday, appeared before Uxbridge Magistrate’s Court in London, facing charges under Britain’s Modern Slavery Act.

The case has been adjourned to July 7 at Westminster Magistrate Court to allow the UK Attorney General, Suella Braverman, determine whether the case will be tried in the country or Nigeria.

According to reports monitored from The Starlite Newspapers office, the case was fast-tracked, adding that the embattled politician was in good shape, dressed in a grey tracksuit, and spoke twice during his appearance to confirm his name and date of birth.

The request of his wife, Beatrice, who had asked the court in her defence to allow her appear by his side because she has not seen him since the last Thursday’s hearing was not granted.

The prosecutor claims that David Ukpo, who alleged that he was forced to donate his kidney to the Senator’s ailing daughter, is 15 years.

In the meantime, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday ordered the Nigerian Immigration Service and three banks to immediately release details of David Ukpo to the detained former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu to defend himself in a London court.

Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit instituted by Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.

The judgment against the defendants followed their non-appearance in court to defend the suit. By the court order, all official information including the account opening package in relation to Ukpo are to be released to Senator Ekweremadu to ascertain the real age of the said Ukpo.

Other defendants are the Comptroller General (C-G), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); Stanbic-IBTC Bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA), and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc as 2nd to 5th respondents, respectively.

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