Nigerian Court Blocks Attempt to Withdraw Ukpo’s Biodata in Ekweremadu Organ Trafficking Case

Abuja, Nigeria (EPICSTORIAN) – The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application aimed at halting the release of David Ukpo’s biodata to Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

This decision is tied to the ongoing legal battle in the United Kingdom, where Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, are accused in an alleged organ trafficking scheme.

The Court Fault EDOSCO For Filing Suit On Behalf of Ukpo

On Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that the Edo Civil Society OrganisationsEdo Civil Society Organisations (EDOSCO), which filed the application on behalf of Ukpo, lacked the legal standing to pursue the case.

The judge pointed to EDOSCO’s lack of legal personality to act under the Fundamental Rights Rules of 2009.

The court stressed that while EDOSCO filed the motion, they were not the true applicants in the matter. The judge concluded that EDOSCO could not move forward with the case due to the legal requirements.

The motion, which sought to protect Ukpo’s privacy rights, did not meet the criteria for enforcing fundamental rights.

The legal dispute began with an order from 2022, which directed several Nigerian agencies, including the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) and banks like Stanbic IBTC and UBA, to release Ukpo’s biodata. This data was intended to aid the Ekweremadus in their defense in the UK, where they face charges of conspiring to traffic Ukpo for organ harvesting.

The request for Ukpo’s biodata forms part of a larger legal struggle. The Ekweremadus sought this critical information to defend themselves in a foreign court. Justice Ekwo had previously ruled in July 2022 that Ukpo’s data, including his Bank Verification Number (BVN), be released for use in the UK trial.

After some delays, the court reaffirmed its decision in July 2022, mandating the Nigerian authorities to send the information to the UK court.

Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, the Ekweremadus’ lawyer, argued that Ukpo, whose whereabouts had been unknown for a time, could not have authorized the civil society group to take legal action on his behalf.

Awomolo further emphasized that no evidence was presented to show Ukpo had granted EDOSCO the authority to act on his behalf.

The case also intersects with the Ekweremadus’ conviction in 2023. Ike Ekweremadu and Beatrice were found guilty of conspiring to traffic Ukpo for organ harvesting.

Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years in prison, while Beatrice received four years and six months. Their co-conspirator, medical doctor Obinna Obeta, was also convicted and sentenced to ten years.

The Ekweremadus have maintained their innocence, insisting the UK trial was based on misunderstandings and false accusations. Beatrice Ekweremadu was released from prison in January 2025 after serving her sentence.

In his judgment, Justice Ekwo supported the Ekweremadus’ argument that the motion was not intended to enforce fundamental rights.

The judge noted that if Ukpo intended to protect his rights, his legal counsel should have filed a separate case under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules of 2009.

Consequently, the judge dismissed the motion, declaring it irrelevant and unworthy of consideration.

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The issue of Ukpo’s biodata continues to be a point of contention in the case. The court’s decision not to block the release of his data raises concerns about privacy rights and sets a significant precedent for future legal challenges in Nigeria, particularly in matters involving human rights and international law.