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The wife of former Deputy Senate President, Beatrice Ekweremadu, has denied involvement in the search for an organ donor for their ailing daughter, Sonia.
Beatrice was last year arrested alongside her husband in the United Kingdom for allegedly trafficking a young man into the country to harvest his kidney.
She denied the allegation on Monday at the Old Bailey in London where she is standing trial alongside her husband, daughter and one medical doctor, Obinna Obeta.
It is claimed the young man was 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.
On the family’s finances, Beatrice told the court that her husband took care of the house, just as she pointed out that she only carried out domestic duties which included visiting their children in school in the UK every couple of weeks
On how they discovered that their daughter had a kidney problem, her husband said Sonia fell sick in 2019 and was diagnosed with the problem in the UK.
Sonia returned to London to see a doctor at the Cromwell Hospital and then the Royal Free, jurors were told
The BBC reports that defence lawyer, Anu Mohindru KC, said, “There are text messages from your husband keeping you informed of what was happening. Is that something he would do?”
The defendant replied: “Yes. He tells me what he thinks I need to know.”
The lawyer went on to inquire if Ekweremadu had relayed his discussions with his medically trained brother, Diwe.
Beatrice told jurors she regarded Diwe Ekweremadu as the family doctor but did not ask about it.
It is alleged that Diwe’s former classmate, Obeta, offered to help the family
Mohindru asked the defendant if she was involved in identifying any candidates, which Mrs Ekweremadu denied.
The Ekweremadus, who have an address in Willesden Green, North-West London, and Obeta, from Southwark, South London, deny the charges against them and the trial continues. (punch)
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