Why Tinubu Is Suddenly Interested in Ekweremadu’s Release — Mahdi Shehu

Social critic and activist Mahdi Shehu has raised questions over President Bola Tinubu’s renewed interest in securing the release of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu from a UK prison, describing the move as a politically motivated strategy ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a post on his official X handle on Tuesday, Shehu alleged that the president’s decision to set up a high-powered committee to engage the British government was driven more by political calculation than humanitarian concern.

“President Tinubu suddenly woke up from his diplomatic slumber and remembered Ekweremadu, who has been in prison since his conviction in 2023 for organ trafficking,” Shehu wrote.

He pointed out that the intervention came when Nigeria has no substantive High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position that could have handled the matter through normal diplomatic processes. Shehu argued that the UK justice system leaves little room for intervention at this stage, suggesting that a prisoner transfer agreement—if one exists between both nations—might be the only viable option.

According to Shehu, the president’s move appears to be aimed at political optics rather than compassion. “My take is that Tinubu is using the jamboree trip to signal care and concern because the election is approaching, and Ekweremadu is the only visible Ndi-Igbo not yet ‘on the train’ from Bombay to Goa. With him on board, Ndi-Igbo will be finally captured,” he said.

He further claimed that other Nigerians jailed abroad would not receive the same level of attention since their release would carry no political advantage. “Such is the visible miscalculation,” Shehu concluded.