Reps Write UK Govt, Demand Sympathy For Ekweremadu

The House of Representatives on Tuesday wrote the United Kingdom government to interfere in the sentencing of the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance raised by a member, Toby Okechukwu, during the plenary session of the House.

The lawmakers also pleaded that the UK court “temper justice with mercy” in the sentencing of the lawmaker and also urged the Federal Government to take diplomatic steps to intervene in his trial.

The House has asked the Clerk of the lower legislative chamber to “convey” their resolutions in writing to the British Embassy, the UK government and the parliament.

Ekweremadu is due to be sentenced on May 5 at the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey in the UK.

Ekweremadu, 60; his wife, Beatrice, 56; and Dr Obinna Obeta, 51, were found guilty of processing the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.

(Punch)