Beatrice Ekweremadu returns to Nigeria after UK prison sentence, husband still behind bars
There was jubilation in parts of Enugu State following the return of Beatrice Ekweremadu, wife of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, after her release from a United Kingdom prison.
Beatrice arrived in Abuja on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, marking her first return to Nigeria since the high-profile legal case that began in 2022. She was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by family members and close associates before travelling onward.
Jubilation in Enugu as Ekweremadu’s wife returns
Her return triggered celebrations in her hometown of Mpu, Enugu State, despite her husband remaining behind bars in the UK. Supporters were seen welcoming her home, describing her release as a moment of relief for the family.
Beatrice Ekweremadu was convicted in May 2023 at London’s Old Bailey for conspiracy to facilitate the travel of a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to the UK for kidney harvesting.
The organ was intended for the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who suffers from a chronic kidney condition. The case was prosecuted under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, marking the first time the law was applied in an organ-harvesting prosecution.
She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison but was released after serving half of the term, in line with UK sentencing practices for non-violent offenders. Reports cited good behaviour and efforts to reduce prison overcrowding as factors in her early release.
Husband still behind bars
Senator Ike Ekweremadu remains incarcerated in the UK, serving a nine-year and eight-month sentence after being identified by the court as the principal architect of the plot. Efforts by the Nigerian government to secure his release or transfer have so far been unsuccessful.
A proposed Prisoner Transfer Agreement in late 2025 was reportedly rejected by the UK Home Office over concerns about enforcing the sentence in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Dr Obinna Obeta, described as the medical middleman in the case, is still serving a 10-year prison term.
The couple’s daughter, Sonia, who was cleared of all charges, continues to reside in the UK where she is receiving ongoing medical treatment.
