The Central Criminal Court in London has again denied bail to former Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.
In a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday, the Old Bailey refused the bail application on the grounds that the senator was a flight risk, despite assurances from his lawyer.
The Punch reports that the court cited the letter and assets forfeiture proceedings against Ekweremadu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The prosecution also said the accused held multiple passports and could escape to a country other than Nigeria.
The senator’s lawyers pointed to attestation of his character by respected Nigerians and organizations and told the court that they had sureties and securities of nearly half a million pounds sterling to secure his release on bail.
Refusing the bail application, the Judge said the bail would not make much difference as the trial is just over a month away.
The trial will begin on 31 January 2023.
Senator Ekweremadu and his wife are accused of plotting to traffic a homeless man from Lagos to London to harvest his kidney for their sick daughter in the United Kingdom.
Mrs. Ekweremadu was granted bail in July and has been in the UK.
