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Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu bags 10 years in UK prison
The 21-year-old Lagos street trader was falsely presented as Ekweremadu’s daughter’s cousin in an attempt to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 private kidney transplant
Former Deputy Senate President of Nigeria, Ike Ekweremadu, has been sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison by a United Kingdom court for his role in an organ trafficking plot. His wife, Beatrice, was also sentenced to four years and six months, while Dr Obinna Obeta, the medical doctor who acted as a “middleman,” received a 10-year sentence and had his medical license suspended.
According to reports, a 21-year-old Lagos street trader was falsely presented as Ekweremadu’s daughter’s cousin in an attempt to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 private kidney transplant at the Royal Free Hospital in London. The young man was offered an illegal reward to become a donor for Ekweremadu’s daughter after kidney disease forced her to drop out of a master’s degree program at Newcastle University.
The prosecutor, Hugh Davies KC, described Ekweremadu’s behavior as showing “entitlement, dishonesty, and hypocrisy,” and accused him and Obeta of treating the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts for reward.” Their conviction was the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act.
Davies argued that Ekweremadu’s actions were not simply expedient in his daughter’s clinical interests but were exploitative and criminal. “Her clinical needs cannot come at the expense of the exploitation of somebody in poverty,” he said.
News
Senate confirms Vanguard’s Editor, Eze Anaba For National Human Rights Commission Board
President Bola Tinubu had in April written to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of the nominees as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s human rights protection framework.
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspapers, Eze Anaba, and 15 other nominees to the governing board of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The NHRC is mandated to promote and protect human rights, investigate alleged violations and encourage compliance with national and international human rights standards.
The confirmation followed the consideration of a report presented today by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (SAN, APC, Ondo Central).
The Senate also confirmed Dr Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman as chairman of the board and Dr Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) as Executive Secretary.
Other confirmed nominees are Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Edmund Chinonye, Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, Otunba Francis Meshioye, Patience Patrick Udoh and Hawwa Ibrahim.
President Bola Tinubu had in April written to the Senate, seeking the screening and confirmation of the nominees as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s human rights protection framework.
The letter was read on the floor of the Senate by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
In the letter, Tinubu sought the reconstitution of the commission’s governing board in line with statutory provisions.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board, subject to Senate confirmation.
The nominees were drawn from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
News
MultiChoice Says Subscribers To Now Choose From Four DStv, GOtv Packages
Under the new structures scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, DStv subscribers will choose from four packages: Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv customers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports.
Lagos| Pic: Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, flank by other executives after the press briefing held at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos.
MultiChoice Nigeria, a CANAL+ company, has structured it’s DStv and GOtv channels saying that they are aimed at giving subscribers more choice and better value through packages tailored to their viewing preferences.
Under the new structures scheduled to take effect on November 5, 2026, DStv subscribers will choose from four packages: Starter, Select, Sports and Premium, while GOtv customers will have Easy, Starter, Select and Sports.
The announcement was made at a press briefing held at the company’s headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, where executives outlined
Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, said that the restructuring forms part of CANAL+’s broader strategy to develop a more unified, customer-focused portfolio following MultiChoice’s integration into the group.
Omotosho emphasised that the changes were driven by customer feedback and shifts in how audiences consume entertainment across television sets, smartphones, tablets and laptops.
News
Leadership Names Obaigbena, Rabiu Persons of Year 2026
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” in their respective fields.
Lagos |Pic: Presentation of Leadership Newspapers Person of the Year 2026 to Prince Nduka Obaigben, at the Ikoyi Offices of Arise News Channel in Lagos. In picture at the event were: Ombudsman, Kayode Komolafe; Leadership Newspapers Vice Chairman & Editor in Chief, Azu Ishiekwene; Leadership Newspapers Chairman, Mrs Zainab Sam Nda Isaiah; THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello and Arise News Director of Politics, Akin Osuntokun.
Leadership Newspapers has named the Chairman of THISDAY Group and founder of Arise News, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and the Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, as its Persons of the Year 2026.
The newspaper announced the recognition, while citing the businessmen’s contributions to institution-building, talent development, innovation, investment, job creation and philanthropy.
According to Leadership, the duo are being honoured for “building influential institutions, nurturing talent, challenging convention, and breaking new ground” in their respective fields.
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