By Fatima Mukhtar
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a special delegation to the United Kingdom to discuss the possibility of transferring former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, back to Nigeria to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.
The delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), met with top officials of the UK Ministry of Justice in London on Monday.
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the meeting was part of ongoing consultations aimed at exploring legal and diplomatic arrangements that could allow Ekweremadu to complete his sentence in Nigeria.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were convicted in the United Kingdom in March 2023 for organ trafficking and sentenced under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act. Ekweremadu received a nine-year-eight-month jail term, while Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months.
Beatrice completed part of her sentence and returned to Nigeria in January 2025 after being granted early release.
The Tinubu administration’s move reflects a growing effort to strengthen Nigeria’s diplomatic relations and ensure that citizens convicted abroad are given fair opportunities under international prisoner transfer agreements.
Although no formal decision has been announced, sources say discussions will continue between both countries in the coming weeks.
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