‘Organ harvesting’: Ekweremadu asks court to dismiss Ukpo’s suit on bio-data release

Ike Ekweremadu, former deputy senate president, has asked a federal high court in Abuja to dismiss the suit filed by David Ukpo.

Ukpo had asked the court to set aside a ruling which ordered the release of his bio-data to the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) for transmission to the United Kingdom.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, had in July ordered the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Stanbic IBTC and United Bank for Africa to supply information on Ukpo to the former deputy senate president.

In an application filed through his team of lawyers led by Bamidele Igbinedion, Ukpo accused Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, of violating his fundamental human rights.

He said the suit was conducted in breach of his fundamental rights to a fair hearing and privacy.

However, Ekweremadu, in a counter affidavit deposed to by his brother, Bright Ekweremadu, said Ukpo has no basis to fear the release of his information if there is nothing to hide.

Ekweremadu said he did not demand the applicant’s bio-data but his bank account opening package and the information supplied in his visa application request.

He also noted that the documents have since been transmitted to two different courts in the United Kingdom and that it is too late to seek a reversal of the order.

Consequently, the former senate president prayed the court to dismiss the suit for being frivolous, an abuse of court and lacking in merit, having been overtaken by events.

At the court session on Tuesday, Ojonugwa Oguche, Ukpo’s lawyer, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to a later date to enable him file a response.

The request was granted and Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, fixed September 20 for the continuation of the matter.

In June, the London Metropolitan Police arrested and charged the former deputy senate president and his wife to court for allegedly bringing Ukpo to the UK for organ harvesting.

Although the London police said Ukpo is 15, his passport and bank verification number (BVN) show he is 21.

The Westminster magistrate court has also ruled that Ukpo is not a minor.