A Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in the United Kingdom has denied former Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice bail over a case of attempted child trafficking and organ harvesting. The couple was arraigned on Thursday at the Court after they were arrested by the Metropolitan Police. The Court ordered the Enugu Senator and his wife to be remanded in Police custody till July 7. The Metropolitan Police said the duo was charged to court on Thursday following an investigation by the police’ specialist crime team. The statement reads: “Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting. “They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today. “A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support.” Ekweremadu and the wife both appeared at Uxbridge Magistrate Court on charges relating to the conspiracy of human trafficking for organ harvesting.

  A court inspector in Imo State, Odera Onumajulu, who sustained gunshot injuries from her kidnappers is dead. Chetachi Udeh Esq, Lead NBAWF Imo State, .confirmed the death of the lawyer to our correspondent on Wednesday night. Onumajulu who was kidnapped and shot on May 22 in Owerri, died on Wednesday. Until her death, the victim was a Customary Court Inspector. She died on Wednesday evening after medical personnel battled for one month to save her life. The gunmen who kidnapped her in front of her house shot her before letting her go. Commenting on her death, Barr Ude said, “With a heavy heart, the NBAWF Imo State received with rude shock the passing unto glory of our young vibrant colleague, His Worship Odera Onumajuru whose sad event took place earlier today the 22 June, 2022. She was kidnapped about a month ago and have been at the hospital since receiving treatment on the gunshot injuries sustained from the incident. “We commiserate with the Onumajuru family, the entire Bar and the Bench over this tragic incident and pray God grant us the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. “It is our utmost desire that the perpetrators be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law”.

  The new Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Lucius Ugorji has appealed to those behind killing in Imo State to sheathe their sword and give peace a chance. Ugorji made the appeal during his inauguration as the second metropolitan archbishop of the province, held at the Maria Assumpta Cathedral, Owerri, Thursday.   The prelate noted that giving peace a chance is the only way development can be achieved. He stated that peace comes when people are free from oppression, unemployment, exploitation and injustice, adding that the church will continue to partner government in making the society better. Ugorji described the archbishop emeritus of the province, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna as an erudite, zealous and consummate missionary who made great sacrifices for the growth of the province and the church as a whole. The archbishop submitted that Obinna left a shoe big enough for anyone to fit into, but maintained that he was coming to the headship of the province with his own ‘customized shoe’. He pledged unalloyed loyalty to the church, while calling for support and prayers from the clergy and the laity. Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma said Obinna had a remarkable and eventful reign as the archbishop of the province, while embarking on aggressive evangelism. Uzodimma stated that much is expected of the new archbishop, Ugorji, especially at a time the nation is at crossroads and battling with insecurity. The governor, however expressed confidence in Ugorji’s educational exposure and versed experience, adding that he was most qualified for the job. Uzodimma urged the new archbishop to be the voice of the voiceless and to always stand for truth and justice. In a homily, the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Antonio Filipazzi, urged the Catholic clergy to always proclaim the undiluted gospel and stand by the doctrine of the church. Filipazzi, who represented the Pope, condemned what he described as social media attack on Bishop Callistus Onaga of the Enugu Diocese over the closure of the Adoration Ministries of Enugu operated by Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka. The nuncio urged the faithful to be conscious of their relationship with their bishop and respect the laws of the church.

  Metropolitan police says they have arrested Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu aged 55 and Ike Ekweremadu aged 60 over plan to harvest the organs of a child. According to Sky News, the two people have been charged for conspiracy to bring a child to the UK in order to harvest organs. The newspaper said the two Ekweremadus have been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court today. Charges were brought against the pair, who are from Nigeria, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team. A child has now been safeguarded. The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022, the force said. A Met Police statement said: “A woman and a man were charged today with conspiring to arrange the travel of a child into the UK in order to harvest organs. “The charges follow an investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime team. “[A] Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu, 55 (10.9.66) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting. “[B] Ike Ekweremadu, 60 (12.05.62) of Nigeria is charged with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting. “They have both been remanded in custody and will appear at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court later today. “The investigation was launched after detectives were alerted to potential offences under modern slavery legislation in May 2022. “A child has been safeguarded and we are working closely with partners on continued support. “As criminal proceedings are now under way we will not be providing further details.”

  The District Head of Panyam in Mangu local government area of Plateau State, His Royal Highness, Aminu Derwan, who was abducted in his palace on Monday by gunmen has regained freedom. Palace sources told The Nation on Thursday that the traditional ruler was released around 11:45 pm on Wednesday to the waiting arms of his family who had been negotiating for his release. The source further stated Dewan arrived his palace in Panyam amidst jubilation by his subjects and other chiefs on Thursday morning. The Nation also gathered the kidnappers who demanded for N150 million ransom reduced it to N10 million on Wednesday morning. Efforts to confirm if the family paid the N10 million or not before his release proved abortive as none of the family member was willing to say anything on it. Efforts to reach Plateau Police Public Relations Officer DSP Alfred Alabon were unsuccessful but security sources confirmed his released yesterday and have been reunited with his family. The traditional ruler was kidnapped in the early hour of Monday by gunmen numbering about 20 who invaded his palace and whisked him away to an unknown destination. Derman was the third monarch kidnapped in the local government in recent time causing apprehension and tension in the area.

  The Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN), Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has urged adoration members to stop castigating Bishop Callistus Onaga and Catholic Church in Enugu. The fiery priest gave the warning while addressing members of the Adoration who converged at the adoration ground on Wednesday in Enugu for prayers. Mbaka, who returned to the Adoration ground since it was shut down by Bishop Onaga, urged them to keep away from the ground in obedience to His Lordship order. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in spite of the closure, hundreds of the Adoration faithful have continued to converge at the ground on a daily basis. Addressing them, Mbaka reminded them that closure of the Adoration was still in force as all activities remained suspended in obedience to the directive of the Catholic Bishop. Mbaka said: “I’m a priest of the Catholic Church and the Bishop is my father, I swore an oath to obey him and his successors. I can not do otherwise.” He appealed to them to henceforth, stop castigating the Bishop or Enugu Catholic Church but to pray and bless them. The cleric also urged them to continue praying for Mr Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party stressing that he was one of them, a brother and friend. “I have come to bless you and to dismiss you, I don’t want you to go to the main road. I don’t want you to be pugnacious or to be cantankerous. “I don’t want the adorers to be violent. I don’t want Adoration people to be classified as bandits for we are not bandits. We are obedient children of God, we love the mother church and the mother Church loves us so much,” Mbaka said.

Aisha Dukku, chairperson of the house of representatives committee on electoral matters, says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) didn’t promise to extend voter registration by 60 days. According to Dukku, the electoral umpire has several activities on its timetable ahead of the 2023 general election which makes it not viable to extend the deadline by 60 days. The house of representatives had asked INEC to extend the deadline by 60 days, following the June 30 closing date set by the electoral body. Speaking on the floor of the house earlier on Wednesday, Dukku had said INEC agreed to extend the deadline. “He (INEC chairman) has already agreed to extend but for the court injunction he is to appear on the 29th of June,” she had said. “That notwithstanding, he said it has been guaranteed that it has to be extended, and not just extending, but also it would additionally be done during weekends. He has agreed to that and he is going to make a statement very soon to that effect. “That extension also involves additional machines, additional ad-hoc staff, and of course, he’s going to collaborate with the security agencies to make sure that is also done. “So, all the prayers of the motion were approved and all members of the committee were there, including the mover of the motion.” But briefing journalists after plenary, Dukku said INEC didn’t agree to the request of the lower legislative chamber. Dukku said Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, only promised to “look at” the request of the lower legislative chamber. “Part of what INEC told the house through the committee on electoral matters is that they are going to look at our request. However, whatever happens, they cannot be able to open the registration for the next 60 days because of the activities lined up before the general election,” she said. “The registration of voters is one aspect. There are other schedules that have to be done which the chairman explained. Such include the printing of voter cards, distribution of the cards and the pasting of list of all persons registered in all 774 local governments nationwide. “And so, it will not be possible. This is the statement— for INEC to extend for the days we requested. However, they will go back and look at their timeline and look at how possible they will be able to increase the days for registration. “Mind you, they are already in court. The court has stopped them from closing the date for registration. In essence, INEC will inform Nigerians as to how many days they will be able to extend the registration in view of other milestones that they have to achieve.”