Nigerians on Twitter have reacted to the sentencing of the country’s former Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu by a United Kingdom court.
His wife, Beatrice was also sentenced to four years six months while the medical doctor who acted as a ‘middleman’ in the plot, Dr. Obinna Obeta, was sentenced to 10 years and his medical licence was also suspended.
The duo, who were arrested following an investigation by the police’s specialist crime team, are both charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.
The police added that the investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022.
Reacting to the conviction, some Nigerians on the microblogging app, welcomed the development, saying it was justice well deserved.
Others, however, mocked Ike Ekweremadu, adding that he will become Nigeria’s president when he finishes his jail term.
Below are their reactions:
“Good news!!! No peace for the wicked!!!”
Good news!!! No peace for the wicked!!!
— Omega X D 𝕏🤴🏽 (@OmegaXDreams) May 5, 2023
“They will probably make sure he serves the full 10. As for the medical doctor, that’s the end of his medical career.”
They will probably make sure he serves the full 10. As for the medical doctor, that's the end of his medical career.
— Airdrop global (Storm) (@Airdropglobal5) May 5, 2023
“He will become Nigeria’s president after his sentence.”
He will become Nigeria president after his sentence.
— Vinosky (@vinosky01) May 5, 2023
“It is a bad image that Nigeria’s 3rd most important lawmaker (after Senate President & Speaker of HoR), Senator Ike Ekweremadu is found guilty & jailed in the UK for breaking the law. Shall Nigeria Judiciary allow an established lawbreaker to become President? That’ll be a disaster!”
It is bad image that Nigeria's 3rd most important lawmaker (after Senate President & Speaker of HoR), Senator Ike Ekweremadu is found guilty & jailed in the UK for breaking law. Shall Nigeria Judiciary allow an established lawbreaker to become President? That'll be disaster!
— Brother Barth (@brotherbarth) May 5, 2023
“@adamugarba @fkeyamo @realFFK @officialABAT are next. You can escape jail. Criminals. You can’t hold on to stolen power.”
@adamugarba @fkeyamo @realFFK @officialABAT are next. You can escape jail. Criminals. You can't hold on to stolen power. pic.twitter.com/EtijlHmKOa
— Don Luis Eghosa (@doneghluis) May 5, 2023
“Only Nigeria and other African countries enable and reward crimes and evil. Out here, everyone has equal rights and respect and dignity regardless… if you break the law, you face the consequences. The law is not a respecter of title, name, or position.
Extradition sef Nigerian government couldn’t get for their Senator. What a pity!”
Only Nigeria and other African countries enables and reward crimes and evil. Out here, everyone has equal rights and respect and dignity regardless… if you break the law, you face the consequences. The law is not a respecter of title, name or position.
Extradition sef Nigerian…
— Mrs. QueenWilson🇺🇸🇳🇬 (@MercyOWilson) May 5, 2023
“Them for add more o….10yrs is too small. They should calculate how many yrs he has been in politics without doing anything visible for his people and sentence him. Useless man.”
Them for add more o….10yrs is too small.
They should calculate how many yrs he has been in politics without doing anything visible for his people and sentence him.Useless man
— salem tony (@salem_tony) May 5, 2023
“It is quite pitiful he went about the whole thing the wrong. No be today people dey donate kidney to people in exchange for money naa. Imagine, those that are going down with him because he didn’t do things the right way. Smh”
It is quite pitiful he went about the whole thing the wrong. No be today people dey donate kidney to people in exchange for money naa. Imagine, those that are going down with him because he didn't do things the right way. Smh
— Femmedy (@famonzo01) May 5, 2023
“And to think that the Nigerian National assembly and presidency including ECOWAS pleaded for clemency on his behalf but the UK went ahead to enforce their law. That’s what you get in society where the rule of law is upheld. No time for politics.”
And to think that the Nigerian National assembly and presidency including ECOWAS pleaded for clemency on his behalf but the UK went ahead to enforce their law. That’s what you get in society where the rule of law is upheld. No time for politics
— Dr. Effiong John (@DrEffiong_John) May 5, 2023
“He will be 70 when he returns. Bad retirement package. I wish it was wike.”
He will be 70 when he returns. Bad retirement package.
I wish it was wike.
— Dimma_ (@dimmailobi) May 5, 2023
“I believe if they had come out openly, willing Nigerians would come out to donate but since he had to take the other route the law has to take its cause.”
I believe if they had come out openly, willing Nigerians would come out to donate but since he had to take the other route the law has to take its cause.
— 𝓞𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓾𝓴𝓸𝓻 🥇 (@JackFleet) May 5, 2023
“10 yrs. wow!!! He sure spending that 10yrs completely.. shame on Nigerian judges! Doguwa is claiming Emilokan for the 4th most important position in the country with a murder case. Oluwa ku suru.”
10 yrs. wow!!! He sure spending that 10yrs completely.. shame on Nigerian judges! Doguwa is claiming Emilokan for the 4th most important position in the country with a murder case. Oluwa ku suru pic.twitter.com/4W7KKexcGv
— Kunta_Kinte (@komolafebragh) May 5, 2023
“I hope the tribunal judges are seeing what it looks like to deliver justice. All eyes on them.”
I hope the tribunal judges are seeing what it looks like to deliver justice. All eyes on them
— Steph (@Stephanieogbu1) May 5, 2023
“Love of parents taken too far.
They did it out of love for their daughter. However, it all went south. Very unfortunate affair.
Hope others learn lessons. 🙏”
Love of parents taken too far.
They did it out of love for their daughter. However, it all went south. Very unfortunate affair..
Hope others learn lessons. 🙏— Jay (@JoyUkaha) May 5, 2023
“Tinubu is next.”
Tinubu is next.
— Agba Voter (@threefaceIdibia) May 5, 2023
“Finally. These sentences were reduced because of all the pleas and that he’s a senator, otherwise it would have been 21yrs minimum.
Other Nigeria culprits should think carefully and retrace Thier steps cus only God knows how many people have been victims.”
Finally. This sentences were reduced because of all the plea and that he's a senator, otherwise it would have been 21yrs minimum.
Other Nigeria culprit should think carefully and retrace Thier steps cus only God knows how many people have been victims.
— KING'S (@GIDKKING) May 5, 2023
“Let them go and cool off,…karma really got them .”
Let them go and cool off ,…karma really got them .
— C.O.G ⭐️⭐️ (@logical_pyper) May 5, 2023
“End of political atrocity for him. I have zero pity for any Nigeria evil politician that will be caught in any crime. Every day for the thief but there will be a day of reckoning.”
End of political atrocity for him . I have zero pity for any Nigeria evil politician that will be caught in any crime. Every day for the thief but there will be a day of reckoning.
— favour amaka( obidient ) (@realamaka) May 5, 2023
“Breaking good news. One after the other. The universe will keep filtering them for Nigeria to be great.”
Breaking good news. One after the other. The universe will keep filtering them for Nigeria to be great.
— Brother_Sam1 (@Brother_Sam1) May 5, 2023
“I’m so glad for this news! Justice served! When are we gotta be seeing such issues served to our politicians when they do something that is inhumane/against our constitution?”
I'm so glad for this news!
Justice served!
When are we gotta be seeing such issues served to our politicians when they do something that is inhumane/against our constitution?
— Blaisemart (@Blaisemat6) May 5, 2023
In other news, Kanyi Daily reported that fire gutted the Enugu zonal command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday morning.
A short statement issued on Friday afternoon by the Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said only one of the buildings of the command was affected.