By Godwin Okoro
The House of Representatives yesterday charged relevant agencies of the Federal Government and corporate bodies to respond to legitimate requests for information to facilitate the prompt resolution of the charges against Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, who were arrested over allegations of human trafficking and exploitation in the United Kingdom.

The charge was made particularly to the National Identity Management Commission, the Nigerian Immigration Service, and banks.

The House mandated the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the High Commission of Nigeria to the United Kingdom to take all necessary steps possible to ensure that Senator Ekweremadu and his are provided with all consular services as they may require at this time.

The House invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Acting Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Director-General, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission to brief it through the relevant committees on all necessary actions taken regarding the matter.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent importance moved by Abdullahi Saad Abdulkadir.

The House noted with concern the arrest of Ekweremadu, a Nigerian citizen and serving senator, former Deputy President of the Senate, and former Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, by the Metropolitan Police in the UK.

The House further noted that Senator Ekweremadu was arrested alongside his wife Dr Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu at London Heathrow airport on their arrival from Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

The House said it was aware that the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have since charged the Ekweremadus with offences relating to human trafficking and exploitation and have had them detained pending the determination of the jurisdiction issues by the Attorney-General of England and Wales.

The House said it was disturbed by the nature and details so far available about the charges against the couple.

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It was concerned that the additional information emerging from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and other legitimate sources including the visa issuing protocols at the UK High Commission, and bank verification number (BVN) suggest a different narrative that might not have been available to the Metropolitan Police at the time of arrest and charge.

The House was hopeful that the authorities in the United Kingdom will work with their national security and intelligence counterpart in Nigeria to conduct a holistic and thorough investigation to ascertain all the facts relating to the allegation to make a fair determination on the issues in the best interest of equity and justice for all concerned.

It expressed confidence that the Federal Government, will through the respective organs use all available tools to ensure that the investigation and outcome will be conducted in the highest fidelity to the rule of law and concerning the dignity of the person as enshrined in the European Convention of Human Rights, of which the United Kingdom is a signatory.

“The House is aware of Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s unblemished record as a constitutional lawyer, a ranking legislator at the highest level in Nigeria, West Africa sub-region, and various international parliamentary bodies, and foremost advocate of the right and dignity of man and.

“The House is also aware that Mrs Ekweremadu has had a flawless career in the Nigerian federal public service rising to the rank of director.

“The House is mindful of the value of human life. Miss Ekwemadu who has a life-threatening ailment mustn’t be allowed to come to arms way due to the unavailability of parental care owing to their continuous detention in the United Kingdom,” the motion read.

In an introductory remark, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said a criminal charge did not constitute a conviction or conclusive proof of guilt and called for fairness in the matter.

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“This is merely the beginning of the judicial process to substantiate the fact of the allegation and gather sufficient evidence to sustain the charges therein. Until that process is concluded and even then let us keep in mind that at the heart of this matter there are human beings and fellow citizens whose lives have taken a turn none of us would ever wish for ourselves.

“I ask the Nigerian High Commission to avail Senator Ekweremadu and his family all necessary defense and support that he will need to defend himself. Indeed I have spoken to the High Commissioner in the UK.

“I still spoke with him this morning and he has been very proactive. He has done all that needs to be done. The Queen’s Counsel has been made available to Ekweremadu. He has access to him. The Nigerian High Commission is doing all necessary to ensure that Senator Ekweremadu is given the full opportunities, rights, and privileges he would need to defend himself.”

Contributing to the motion later, Gbajabiamila urged the UK parliament to ensure Ekweremadu gets the proper due process, and that the rule of law is applied

Also contributing, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House, said recent developments have shown that Toby Okechukwu, what the Met Police relied on may not have been the truth.