Sonia, the daughter of embattled former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu says she feels guilty that her parents were convicted because they were looking for ways to find a solution to her health condition.
The Ekweremadu’s daughter stated this in an interview with the BBC on Friday.
In March 2023, a UK jury found that Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and a doctor, Obinna Obeta, criminally conspired to bring a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.
The young man was said to have been falsely presented as Sonia’s cousin in a failed bid to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
An Old Bailey Court jailed all three of them on Friday.
Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months, Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, while “middleman” medical doctor Obeta received a 10-year prison term.
But Sonia, who is currently undergoing dialysis and was also on trial alongside her parents, was not convicted.
Sonia said she and her siblings were surprised when the police knocked on their door and informed them of their purpose.
Sonia said she disagreed with the conviction of her parents.
She said, “I understand the conviction, however, I personally disagree with it. That is from a very bias perspective as their daughter, I will obviously always back my parents.
“However, the law has taken its course, we just need to move on as one family,” she added.
She described her disease as Nephrotic syndrome, a kind of kidney disorder that makes the body pass too much protein in urine.
When asked about the man who was supposed to donate his kidney to her, she said she was not involved in the process.
She said, “I didn’t have a hand in it, it was mostly my family that handled everything about my medical side.
“I don’t think things will ever be the same, already I feel guilty, because I feel all these happened because of me,” she added.
Latest Stories
-
Justice Dzamefe opposes gagging investigative journalism in defence of judiciary
9 minutes -
Ofosu Kwakye appeals for tax exemptions to sustain struggling state media
15 minutes -
Report facts, not perceptions – Justice Dzamefe tells journalists
22 minutes -
Judgements are based on evidence not on friendships – Justice Dzamefe
31 minutes -
Judiciary is not financially independent – Justice Dzamefe
34 minutes -
‘Forget women, smoking and drinking’ if you want to be World Champion – Bukom Banku
39 minutes -
Justice Dzamefe proposes timelines for court cases to enhance justice delivery
45 minutes -
Global conference on human resources in Africa slated in August
48 minutes -
Frederick Asare calls Kotoko’s FA Cup triumph a ‘special day’
55 minutes -
We’ll cooperate with the majority in vetting of Supreme Court nominees – Minority
1 hour -
I am ready to defend myself in court for things I said about Zoomlion contract – Manasseh Azure
1 hour -
Livestream: Vetting of seven nominees to Supreme Court begins
1 hour -
WAFCON 2024: Black Queens name squad for pre-tournament camping
1 hour -
Sports Minister Kofi Adams calls for total overhaul of Ghana’s Professional Boxing
1 hour -
We’ll bid for gov’t sweepers contract again if tender is opened – Zoomlion
1 hour