The passport of David Ukpo Nwamini, the young man who was to donate a kidney to Sonia Ekweremadu, daughter of Ike Ekweremadu, the embattled former deputy senate president, has emerged, indicating that he is 21 years old.
According to information on the data page of Nwamini’s international passport seen by THE WITNESS, which Ekweremadu provided in an introductory letter in the medical visa application submitted to the British High Commission in Abuja, the nation’s capital, he was born on October 12, 2000.
The date of issuance of the passport is indicated as November 4, 2021 while his date of birth is October 12, 2000. This puts the age of the passport holder in question at 21.
But under British law, being above 18 is not enough to be an organ donor, as the question of consent is another burden the Ekweremadus will have to discharge.
Yet, questions would remain with respect to whether the birth date on the passport is indeed his real age.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice were arrested by UK authorities earlier in the week and arraigned for conspiracy to arrange the travel of a child, child trafficking, potential modern slavery, and organ harvesting in the UK on Thursday.
The couple appeared in court on Thursday afternoon in London and were denied bail.
But in a fresh twist, a letter that accompanied the visa application of Nwamini, alleged to be a 15-year-old homeless child showed that Ekweremadu informed the UK authorities that he was taking the person abroad for a kidney transplant for his daughter.
The document seen by THE WITNESS showed Mr Ekweremadu applied for visa for Nwamini on December 28, 2021.
“I am writing in support of the visa application made by Mr Ukpo Nwamini David who is currently having medical investigations for a kidney donation to Ms Sonia Ekweremadu.
“David and Sonia will be at the Royal Free Hospital London, and I will be providing the necessary funding. I have enclosed a statement of my bank account,” the letter said.
A close source to the Ekweremadus told THE WITNESS that the PDP senator was not involved in any organ trafficking.
“Senator Ekweremadu has a daughter who needs a transplant. A willing donor was seen in Nigeria and travel preparations were made. He did write to the British High Commission, explaining the situation. The donor travelled to the UK with the patient. The donor is a 21 year old man and not a girl. He is not a minor. As it happened, the organ did not even match. Not wanting to return to Nigeria, the donor went to report that he was trafficked to London for possible organ harvest, believing same would guarantee him asylum.” the source said.
