Ike Ekweremadu, the former Senate President, his wife Beatrice, and Dr. Obinna Obeta have all received prison sentences for their roles in the organ harvesting case that was brought by a UK court.

The former deputy senate president was sentenced to nine years, eight months in prison, while his wife was given a four years, six months sentence.

Dr Obeta, aged 50, and the medical middleman to the couple, received a 10 year prison term. Together, the trio was found guilty in the Old Bailey in March.

Sonia, the daughter of the Ekweremadus and sufferer of a severe kidney condition, sobbed as she was absolved of the same charge.

At a sentence hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife Beatrice to four years and six months, and Obeta to ten years.

Mr Justice Johnson told the defendants, “In each of your cases, the offence you committed is so serious that neither a fine nor a community sentence can be justified.”

It was claimed that the 21-year-old street vendor would receive payment for providing Sonia Ekweremadu with the organ during an $80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London.

The case marked the first time defendants were convicted of an organ harvesting conspiracy under the Modern Slavery Act.

While donating a kidney is legal, it becomes illegal if money or another material advantage is offered in exchange.

According to the prosecution, the donor was offered up to £7,000 and promised a better life in the United Kingdom.

The Old Bailey was informed that the donor did not realise he was there for a kidney transplant until his first appointment with a hospital consultant.