Top Stories

Ekweremadu’s daughter loses bid to be excused from trial

Sonia Ekweremadu, the 25-year-old daughter of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, lost her bid to be excused from the trial her parents are involved in in the UK.

 

Advertisement

Sonia’s application to not stand trial with her father and mother for their ?conspiracy to harvest organ? charges was thrown out by Justice Johnson at the Old Bailey.

 

Advertisement

 

 

Advertisement

Sonia, 25, was in the dock with her mother, Beatrice. However, Ike Ekweremadu followed the proceedings via video link.

 

Advertisement

He sat motionless as the judge ruled that Sonia was not unfit to stand a ?criminal trial lasting seven weeks? as her defence barrister, Femi Oni, had argued.

 

Advertisement

Sonia’s attorney and the Crown prosecutor used the testimonies and reports of expert witnesses to back their arguments in the courtroom.

 

Advertisement

After tabling the application for ?stay of proceedings? on the basis that ?she?s unfit? medically and psychologically due to her ongoing thrice a week dialysis, both sides of the bench led their expert witnesses in testimonies via video link, beginning with the Manchester-based professor that Oni had lined up.

 

Advertisement

After being sworn in, the defence asked him: ?Did you have opportunity to get consultation with her before writing his report?? He replied with a ?yes.? Asked if he has a report on ?what she?s suffering from?? the professor told the court that, ?she?s developed from a young age, a kidney condition? that led to a gradual dysfunction and consequently, ?her life is dependent on dialysis treatment until she has a kidney transplant.?

 

Advertisement

Led in further testimony, he told the court the treatment has placed psychological, mental and medical burdens on her as it does on other dialysis patients. The professor also relied on the report of a consultant psychiatrist.

 

Advertisement

Davies, on his part, had Dr. Andrews as his expert witness. Though he admitted having not had any direct consultation with Sonia, but did say if the court schedule of sitting times was moved to afternoons to accommodate her treatment days that she?s capable of standing trial. Andrew told the court in his testimony that ?the residual symptoms of dialysis do not make it impossible to attend trial.?

 

Advertisement

After listening to the barristers and their expert witnesses, including their reports, and acknowledging that the treatment takes its toll on her and that she?s even had to withdraw from her Masters degree programme after her diagnosis, the judge said it is not confirmed that her recovery or clinical care could suffer if she were to stand trial.

 

Advertisement

He then ruled that, ?accordingly, the application is dismissed.?

Advertisement
Sola Adeyemo

Recent Posts

Digital Transformation: Maida, Kekere-Ekun Speak At NCC’s Annual Workshop for Judges in Lagos

Welcome Address Delivered at the 2024 Edition of the Judges Workshop at Sheraton Hotel Ikeja,…

1 hour ago

Breaking: House Of Reps Finance Committee Visits FIRS

The House of Representatives Finance Committee has paid a working visit to the headquarters of…

3 hours ago

BREAKING: Tinubu govt drops treason charges against EndBadGovernance protesters

  The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the treason charges brought against the…

7 hours ago

#USRoadToWhiteHouse2024: Trump-Harris polls remain tied in battleground states…

What to know about the end of the #USElection2024 campaign The most recent polling analysis…

7 hours ago

#USElection2024 Live Updates: Trump Vs Harris…Latest Results…Latest Polls

#US election 2024 Live Updates:  What you need to know about USelection2024 latest polls •…

7 hours ago

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pursue separate projects

A royal commentator suggests that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are taking separate paths in…

9 hours ago