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“Organ Harvesting”: I Didn’t Offer To Buy Kidney, Ekweremadu Tells UK Court

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Former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has denied offering money to a prospective kidney donor to save his sick daughter, Sonia.

The lawmaker, his wife, Beatrice, and their 25-year-old daughter are on trial in London for allegedly trafficking a young man from Nigeria to serve as a kidney donor.

The Ekweremadus were alleged to have offered £7,000 to the 21-year-old trader whom they flew to London and falsely presented as Sonia’s cousin so as to obtain his kidney.

According to Daily Mail, in his opening addresses at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, lawyers for the defendant, Martin Hicks, insisted they believed the donor was acting “altruistically”.

Hicks told jurors, “Be alive please to the possible cultural differences between this country and that of Nigeria, particularly to altruistic donation.

“We say the issue in this case is simple – did there exist an agreement to exploit (the donor) in the way the prosecution alleges and if so, who was a party to it?

“In Nigerian society, there is an expression ‘everyone is each other’s keeper’ and the altruistic donation of organs is not regarded there as such a rare event as it is in this country.

“He will also say he was told (the donor) had offered to altruistically donate a kidney to Sonia.”

Hicks said Ekweremadu did not attend any visits to the Royal Free Hospital in February and March last year, which concluded that the donor was unsuitable.

He added, “In April 2022 and with the assistance of Diwe, he continued the family search for a suitable donor for his daughter Sonia and that search continues.

“We question whether (the donor) was exploited as suggested by the prosecution.”

Speaking on behalf of Sonia, her lawyer, John Femi-Ola, said, “She suffers from a very severe kidney disease. She receives dialysis treatment three days per week.”

Each session is for four hours.

“The treatment is for the rest of her life unless there is a transplant in the future which now must be much in doubt given the publicity this case has attracted.”

Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested in June 2022 at the Heathrow Airport in London and were immediately arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court for allegedly bringing a young man into the country to allegedly harvest his organs.

He has been in custody of the UK authorities since June 23 while his wife was granted bail by a criminal court in London.

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Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

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Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

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Adron Homes Throws Grand Party To Celebrate Customers [PHOTOS]

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In a momentous gesture of gratitude and recognition, the Adron Homes Management Team orchestrated a surprise celebration at the esteemed West Park & Gardens Estate, Paradise City, Ayegun Adron City, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, on the 12th of May 2024. This grand event, meticulously organized by the Directorate of Estate at Adron Homes, aimed to honor and appreciate the valued residents and homeowners of this prestigious estate.

Under the distinguished chairmanship of Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing, the Chairman/CEO of Adron Homes, the event unfolded with an air of elegance and prestige. Accompanied by many top senior directors including :

Mrs. Ajobo Adenike – Deputy MD, Southern Nigeria;Ms. Shola Orunmuyiwa – Group Director Legal Bureau ;Engr. Stephen Ogunbiyi – Technical Director;Engr Sola Okanlawon – CPC Southern Nigeria;Arch. Bolaji Mustapha – PD Upland World;Mr. Christopher Adeogun-Director Internal Control & Compliance;Engr Kole – Chief Director Power & Energy ;TP Rotimi Dipeolu -Director of Physical Planning and Development ;Ms. Omotola Alonge – Director of Construction & Building Materials,Mr. Michael Oyadele -Director of Public Affairs; Engr Festus Fatunbi-Deputy Project Director Upland World;Mr. Kunle Aliyu -Director of Estate Western World and other esteemed Partners and consultants ,the occasion was a true testament to the community’s significance and vitality.

A highlight of the celebration was the official inauguration of the New Executive Committee of the West Park & Gardens Estate Residents Association (WEPAGERA) by the esteemed Chairman/CEO, Aare Adetola EmmanuelKing himself. With Mr. Idris Adejumo leading as Chairman and a stellar team of executives by his side,which include :

-Elder Abayomi Olatunji – Vice Chairman;

-Mr. Akintunde Akinpelu – General Secretary;

-Mrs. Aderonke Adelakun – Assistant General Secretary;

-Mr. Musbau Yekini – Financial Secretary/Treasurer;

-Mr. Babatunde Adesesan – Assistant Treasurer;

-Mr. Sakiru Opeyemi Aliu – Publicity Secretary;

-Mr. David Akinbi – Assistant Publicity Secretary;

-Dr. Sola Popoola – Ex-Officio/Adviser;

-Dr. Ademola Adebayo – Ex-Officio/Adviser;

-Grandma Esther Adeyemi – Ex-Officio/Adviser;

-Alhaji Ismail Adeyemi – Security Coordinator;

-Mrs. Gbemisola Adelakun – Projects/Maintenance Coordinator;

-Rev’d Olufemi Tokede – Zone 1 Coordinator;

-Mr. Oyewumi Adelakun – Zone 2 Coordinator;

-Mrs. Elizabeth Olade – Zone 3 Coordinator

the committee embodies a vision of unity, progress, and excellence, promising to steer the community towards greater heights.

Residents, professionals, and top senior officials from Adron Homes alike were swept up in the joyous atmosphere of the event. Questions were entertained by the Adron Team, fostering an environment of open dialogue and camaraderie. Residents were encouraged to embrace a culture of inclusivity and neighborly love, transforming West Park And Gardens Estates into a beacon of hospitality and warmth, attracting potential landlords seeking solace in its tranquil surroundings.

The Adron Homes Management Team pledged their unwavering support to the newly inaugurated WEPAGERA committee, vowing to work hand in hand to make West Park & Gardens Estate the epitome of excellence in the entire southwest region. The residents, in turn, expressed their heartfelt appreciation for this initiative, applauding the management of Adron Homes for their commitment to their well-being and happiness.

As the celebration drew to a close, filled with laughter, music, and entertainment, it symbolized not just a moment of revelry, but a reaffirmation of the strong bonds that unite West Park & Gardens Estate. In this enclave of luxury and harmony, residents and management alike come together to create a thriving and prosperous community, setting a shining example for others to follow.

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Edwin, Dangote Industries’ Vice-President Bags Icon Award

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Members of the Democratic Youth Assembly of Nigeria (DYAN) have visited the Vice-President, Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Mr. Devakumar Edwin, in his office at the corporate Headquarters of the Pan-African Conglomerate in Lagos during which they presented him with an award of “Icon of Delight Service”.

The body stated that the award is in recognition of Edwin’s his contributions toward Societal Development, Human Upliftment and Selfless Service to Humanity.

 

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