The Central Criminal Court in London, the United Kingdom, has moved the trial of former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu over alleged organ harvesting from May 2023 to January 31, 2023.
The Old Bailey agreed that arguments will be heard on the 16th or 19th of December 2022 before the commencement of the trial in January.
Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arrested on June 23 and charged with conspiracy to trafficking a person for organ harvesting in violation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
Though he was absent from court on Monday, his wife who was released on bail in July and Sonia, the couple’s daughter, were present.
Last week, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of Ekweremadu’s assets following an ex-parte motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, subsequently described the court’s ruling as “hasty” and a “selective judgement”.