By Princess-Ekwi Ajide, Abuja
April 30 (Newshour.com.ng) – Following the incarceration of the former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Ike Ekweremadu in the United Kingdom over alleged organ trafficking, the Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis, has written the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom for leniency on his behalf.
Ekweremadu, who was the Speaker of the Parliament between 2011 and 2015 and first Deputy Speaker in the Parliament between 2007 to 2011 is awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of breaching UK laws relating to organ trafficking and modern slavery.
The letter as sighted by Ghanamps.com, written to the court three weeks ago on behalf of the parliament, notes that though the ECOWAS Parliament does not support organ harvesting in anyway and by any method, they believe that lessons have been learnt, not only by the Ekweremadus, but by everybody and therefore, fervently appealed to the honorable court, on behalf of the ECOWAS Parliament, for leniency in meting out justice to the couple.
Dr. Tunis, said, he understands the position of the law, but only appealing for human face in this circumstance and that justice be tempered with mercy, considering his good behavior and contribution to the good of society, the less privileged, and democracy.
The Speaker, added that the former Speaker gives to charity work and is experienced in lawmaking in Nigeria and internationally, as such, could be very useful to his nation and the international community in public enlightenment as well as legal reforms campaign on organ trafficking to curtail such incidents drawing from his personal experience.
It will be recalled that former Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo, had earlier written to the court appealing for leniency.
It is reported that Senator Ike Ekweremadu is highly appreciated in the sub-region for his sterling roles in the development of the Community Parliament in the preservation and stabilization of democracy.
As First Deputy, he chaired the Parliaments Ad Hoc Committee on the political situation in Niger and the Republic of Guinea.
And his efforts contributed immensely to resolving the impasses in the two ECOWAS member states as he visited almost every flashpoint, sometimes at his personal expense.
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