By Deborah Onyofufeke
While Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu has been granted bail, Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s provisional trial has been fixed for May 2, 2023, while he continues to remain in prison in the United Kingdom(UK)

Judge Richard Marks QC disclosed that the case would be heard by a High Court judge in the UK

Meanwhile, a plea and case management hearing has been scheduled for October 31, 2021

On Thursday, Mrs Ekweremadu, who is on bail, appeared at the Old Bailey for a plea and directions hearing, with Ekweremadu and Obinna Obeta also attending by video link from Wandsworth and Belmarsh prisons.

The judge granted Mrs Ekweremadu continued conditional bail and remanded Senator Ekweremadu and Obeta, a 50-year-old London doctor involved in the case, into custody.

Court strikes out suit against Oyebanji’s eligibility

The former Senator has pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him, denying any wrongdoing

Martin Hicks, QC, defending the Senator, has said: “We deny that there was any exploitation or any intent to do so. The argument will be factual denial”.

Senator Ekweremadu, wife and Obeta are facing trial for allegedly trafficking a minor of 19years old, David Ukpo, to the UK for Kidney transplant to save their daughter’s life who is suffering from Kidney failure and in need of a kidney

The Ekweremadu’s have insisted Ukpo is above 19 and not a minor. On this note, the embattled couples proceeded by dragging the NIMC, Immigration and UBA bank to release Ukpo’s Bio data and BVN, which according to them will prove the young man is up to 21yrs of age

Prosecutors claim the Ekweremadus planned to have David’s kidney removed at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north west London, so it could be given to their daughter

Ukpo is said to have refused to consent to the procedure after undergoing tests.