Sidie Mohamed Tunis, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has filed an appeal with the Chief Clerk of the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey in London regarding the sentence handed down to his predecessor Ike Ekweremadu for crimes related to organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu, a Deputy Senate President, was convicted of organ trafficking, along with his wife Beatrice and doctor Obinna Obeta, in the first case of its kind under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.

The couple had facilitated the travel of a 21-year-old Nigerian man to the United Kingdom (UK), with the aim of transplanting one of his kidneys to their ailing daughter, Sonia, after the man was confirmed as a good match by Obeta.

The narrative, however, took a downward turn when the man told UK authorities that he was duped into travelling and was unaware he was to offer his kidney to Sonia, raising doubts about consent, which the couple claimed they previously got from him.

In his letter to the UK Court, Tunis wrote that, as a parent, he could identify with the struggles, decisions, and crossroads the couple were experiencing regarding the health of their daughter. Tunis urged the court to exercise compassion when rendering its decision on May 5, noting that Sonia still needs a kidney transplant to have any chance of surviving to fulfill her destiny.

“It is certain that Sonia cannot survive the absence of her parents in her present health condition… I wish to fervently appeal to the honourable court, on behalf of the ECOWAS Parliament, for leniency in meting out justice to the couple.

“We understand the position of the law, but only appeal that the honourable court puts on a human face in this circumstance and temper justice with mercy, especially considering his good behaviour and contributions to the good of the society, the less privileged, and democracy.

“Importantly, the typical Ekweremadu, being one, who is given to charity work and experienced in lawmaking in Nigeria and internationally, could also be very useful to the Nigerian and international community in public enlightenment and legal reforms/campaigns on organ trafficking to curtail such incidents drawing from his personal experience,” Tunis added.

Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has also filed similar appeals with the Old Bailey Court.