Like reps, senate seeks clemency for Ekweremadu ahead of sentencing in UK

The senate is seeking leniency for Ike Ekweremadu, a former deputy senate president, and Beatrice, his wife, ahead of their sentencing in the UK.

The decision of the upper legislative chamber followed a motion sponsored by Chukwuka Utazi, senate minority whip.

The lawmakers asked the UK court to “temper justice with mercy” in the sentencing of the lawmaker which is scheduled for Friday.

The senator representing Enugu west was convicted for attempting to harvest an organ of a 21-year-old for the treatment of Sonia, his daughter.

While speaking on the floor of the senate, on Wednesday, Utazi said the upper legislative chamber is not contending the verdict but asking the UK court to be lenient in its sentencing.

Utazi said though not an excuse in law, Ekweremadu might have been ignorant about the organ transplant process in the western country.

The motion was adopted after it was put to a vote by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

Lawan re-echoed the minority whip’s sentiments, saying that Ekweremadu has contributed “a lot” to parliament in Nigeria.

The move by the senate came about a day after the house of representatives made an appeal to the UK government and parliament on Ekweremadu’s behalf.

On Tuesday, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, said “it behooves on any government to plead for clemency when their citizens are in such a situation”.