NEWS
The Ekweremadus Health, Human Trafficking, Organ Harvesting Travails
By Kenneth Eze
The world was jolted last Thursday when news broke out that Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu’s alleged involvement in human trafficking and organ harvesting in the United Kingdom (UK).
Coming on the heels of overwhelming hardship being experienced by the masses in Nigeria, it is relatable that the Nigerian public chose to celebrate the matter, instead of empathising with a spouse looking to save the life of a child a daughter battling with a terminal illness.
Sadly, the issue of ill-governance and consequently hardship it has brought upon the populace seem to have eroded humanity to the point where people seem to be praying for the rich to also cry.
I wonder if this should be. And why?
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While we are entitled to the legitimate right to wrestle our collective destiny at the national level from unscrupulous politicians, we owe ourselves the duty to do so rationally.
It can be said that the public’s spontaneous reaction can be seen as a lesson for politicians and public servants, but the more salient issues are: Without controversy, every responsible parent would do everything legal within his/her to save his/her child who is similarly threatened like Sonia Ekweremadu. The next is that no one has a moral right to seek to profit from the misfortune of another, particularly illness. The third is that the parties to this (the Ekweremadus and the proposed donor, Ukpo Nwamini David) are adults and can enter into a binding contract.
My candid take is that the public ought to weigh the issues properly before jumping into the conversation. Suffice it to state that at moment there’s scanty information, as there’s little or no access to the parties to the matter. This has made real informed commentary tough naught at this time.
However, a sensitive aspect of the discourse is the proposed donor’s age. While the Metropolitan Police said the boy is 15, his traveling documents indicate that he is 21. What nobody can take away is that his picture and social media footprints tell a story of someone well above the 15 being brandied.
Another aspect that no one can mask is that his traveling was processed formally on medical grounds, for which he had privileged information. The coming days will reveal why this dangerous twist came into the story.
Another aspect that lends itself to plausibility is the fact that any young unemployed person would almost stop at nothing to secure an exit from the open prison, called Nigeria. Probably, this is the card this young man is playing. It would be sickening if this should be the case, that an individual would go to the extent of throwing another of high public standing under the bus, just to secure papers to stay in a foreign country.
This ought to be of concern to members of the public.
While each person is at liberty to seek to live or work wherever he or she wishes, that should not be at the detriment of others, particularly, someone with a terminal illness.
It’s painful enough to have a child with a terminal disease. And for another to seek to profit from it, endangering the sick child and her parents in the process. That’s hard to imagine!
Where’s humanity and compassion? And for others to condemn a genuine effort of parents to save the life of their daughter. I think we all need to think again.
Unfortunately for the Ekweremadus, the extant laws in the UK favor the minor. It is not clear if there’s a legal provision that can unravel this young man’s real age. Because until that is done, though, evidence of Ukpo submitting himself to the procurement of travelling documents, and indeed, undertaking the journey without alerting the law, in addition to willingly being ‘spoilt’ by the Ekweremadus, indicate that he consented, they amount to nothing.
Extant laws in the UK are in place to protect the weak or disadvantaged, which weighs against the Ekweremadus, albeit momentarily.
While these are ongoing, it is time to become sober and ponder on; ‘To what extend should parents go to try to save the life of a child diagnosed with a terminal illness?’
I am actually worried at the sudden turn of events because this is Nigeria, a country where people of all tribes and religions donate to save the lives of others just at the prompting of trusted media channels or other individuals.
What could have gone wrong? This is beyond religious or political sentiments.
Ukpo might be making all manner of claims before the UK authorities, but it must be borne in mind that the request upon which his UK visa was granted was founded on medical. Now, that he is claiming ignorance of what took him to the UK, can he adduce evidence of his medical condition and why the onus fell on the Ekweremadus to take him to the UK for treatment?
Unless Ukpo comes clean on this, his claims might appeal to the UK authorities and their legal system, but however this ends, he would have to live with the burden of undoing a benefactor all the days of his life.
A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, has ordered the remand of Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with Oriyomi Hamzat, the CEO of Agidigbo FM, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
The trio was arraigned on Tuesday in connection with the recent tragic stampede that occurred during a Christmas funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The incident, which claimed the lives of 35 children and injured six others, has drawn widespread public and legal attention.
Presiding over the case, Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi issued the remand order following charges brought against the defendants. The police prosecutor stated that their alleged offences contravened Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
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The prosecution accused the defendants of being involved in the organization of the event, which turned disastrous, leading to the stampede. Pending legal advice from the Oyo State Director of Public Prosecutions, the court directed their detention at the correctional facility.
The court session, held amidst heavy security, attracted significant public interest. Law enforcement officers were seen providing tight security as the suspects were escorted to and from the courtroom.
Further updates on the legal proceedings are expected as investigations continue.
A cry has gone out for further reduction of the pump prices of premium motor spirit (PMS) in Nigeria to reflect local domestic production of refined products.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)has urged further reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, insisting that the recent drop in price to N935/litre was begging the situation.
Recall that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in partnership with MRS recently announced a reduction in petrol price to N935/litre.
Before the announcement, the commodity sold for over N1,030/litre in Lagos and environs, while it cost more than N1,060/litre in Abuja and Northern states.
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In a swift reaction, on Sunday, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said its members would be selling petrol at N935/litre from Monday based on the latest arrangement with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
IPMAN’s National President, Maigandi Garima,, according The Punch, said the reduction in Dangote refinery’s ex-depot price for petrol and the uniform arrangement being put in place, would enable marketers to sell at N935 in their outlets nationwide.
They had set aside N36/litre as cost of logistics.
However, the announcement did not excite the NLC, which insisted on Monday that the cost of petrol should drop further.
A senior official of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, unequivocally rejected any commendation for the Federal Government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) over the recent reduction in the pump price of petrol.
He argued that the current pricing mechanism does not reflect the true cost of the commodity, according to The Punch.
“Do you want us to clap for them? How can we be okay with a price of N935/litre of PMS? This is not the right price for PMS. You cannot base the price on imported products when we have refining capacity in Nigeria,” he said.
He argued that the costs embedded in the current pricing framework — including foreign labour, freight charges, insurance, logistics, and profits accrued abroad — unfairly burden Nigerians.
“Products are refined in Nigeria, yet the price you give Nigerians is based on imported products. Why should we applaud that? It is akin to someone stealing your money and returning only part of it, then expecting you to clap. We cannot applaud this,” he stated.
Onyeka stressed that the only way to ascertain the correct price of PMS is by determining the actual cost of refining it domestically.
“We need to know how much it costs the NNPC to refine a litre of PMS in our local refineries, such as the Port Harcourt refinery. That is the price Nigerians should be paying,” he emphasised.
He called on the government to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by ensuring that fuel pricing aligns with local realities.
“This country belongs to all Nigerians. Let the government do the right thing that allows Nigerians to breathe. Let the poor breathe.
“The NLC’s position underscores growing discontent among Nigerians over the rising cost of living, with fuel prices being a major contributor to inflation and economic hardship,” he stated.
President Bola Tinubu, during his first Presidential Media Chat aired on the Nigerian Television Authority on Monday, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the ongoing tax reforms and subsidy removal, maintaining that the measures are essential to securing Nigeria’s economic future.
The tax reforms, designed to eliminate colonial-era practices and widen the tax net, have faced significant resistance from some quarters, particularly from northern lawmakers and governors. Despite this, Tinubu declared, “Tax reform is here to stay. We cannot just continue to do what we were doing yesteryears in today’s economy.”
The reforms, encapsulated in four bills transmitted to the National Assembly, aim to streamline taxation and revenue generation.
However, critics, including Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, have argued for caution. “The Petroleum Industry Bill took almost 20 years before it was finally passed. This tax reform bill is being transmitted and receiving legislative attention within a week. It should be treated carefully and with caution,” Zulum said in an interview with BBC.
Despite calls for broader consultations and delays, Tinubu emphasized the pro-poor nature of the reforms, noting that the vulnerable would not be taxed. “The essence of the tax reform is to eliminate colonial-based assumptions in our tax environment,” he stated.
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No Regrets Over Subsidy Removal
Addressing the economic hardship resulting from the removal of the petrol subsidy, Tinubu defended his decision as necessary to prevent Nigeria from “spending its future.” He dismissed the notion of a phased removal, stating, “Phased removal is part of unnecessary fear. No matter how you cut it, you still have to meet the bills.”
The President highlighted the benefits of subsidy removal, pointing out that the policy had curtailed smuggling and freed up resources for more productive uses. “There is no way that you give out fuel and allow all the neighbouring countries as Father Christmas. I don’t have any regret whatsoever in removing the subsidy,” he said.
Tackling Inflation and Corruption
Tinubu also discussed his administration’s strategies to reduce inflation, emphasizing local production and import reduction. “If one produces more for consumption locally, stop imports, give a reasonable level of funding and assistance… we have what it takes,” he explained.
On corruption, the President cited increased earnings for workers and stricter oversight by anti-corruption agencies as key measures. He pointed to the recent seizure of hundreds of properties reportedly owned by a former Central Bank Governor as evidence of his administration’s efforts. “Part of the anti-corruption is removal of subsidy. It is very difficult to eliminate but you reduce it to the barest minimum,” Tinubu stated.
Food Stampedes and Governance
The President expressed condolences over recent tragic stampedes during food distribution events, attributing the incidents to poor organization by event planners. “If you don’t have enough to give, don’t attempt to give or publicize it,” he warned.
Tinubu concluded by reaffirming his commitment to efficient governance and economic reforms, stating, “The hallmark of a good leader is the ability to do what you have to do at the time it has to be done.”
The reforms continue to spark nationwide debates, with stakeholders divided over their potential long-term impacts.
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