Ekweremadu Saga: Reps urge NIMC, NIS, Banks, others to respond to request for information to facilitate Resolution of Charges

The House of Representatives has called on National Identity Management Commission, Nigerian Immigration Service and relevant banks to respond to legitimate requests for information to facilitate the prompt resolution of the charges against Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, who were arrested over allegations of human trafficking and exploitation in the United Kingdom.

The House also invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Acting Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission to brief it through its relevant committees on all necessary actions taken regarding the matter.

The resolution is sequel to a motion of urgent importance moved by Abdullahi Saad Abdulkadir, on the need for the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ensure that the investigation and case against Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom conforms to the rule of Law and respect for the rights of the individual enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.

The House noted with concern the arrest of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a Nigerian citizen and serving senator, former President of the Nigerian Senate and former Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament by the Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.

The House further noted that Senator Ekweremadu was arrested alongside his wife Dr Mrs Beatrice Ekweremadu at London Heathrow airport on their arrival from Nigeria to the United Kingdom.

“The House is aware of Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s unblemished record as a constitutional lawyer, ranking legislator at the highest level in Nigeria, West Africa subregion and various international parliamentary bodies and foremost advocate of the right and dignity of man.

“The House is also aware that Mrs Ekweremadu has had a flawless career in the Nigerian federal public service rising to the rank of director.

“The House is mindful of the value of human life. It is imperative that Miss Ekwemadu who has a life threatening ailment is not allowed to come to arms way due to the unavailability of parental care owing to their continuous detention in the United Kingdom,” the motion read.

The lawmakers are disturbed by the nature and details so far available about the charges against the couple.

“The House is aware of Senator Ike Ekweremadu’s unblemished record as a constitutional lawyer, ranking legislator at the highest level in Nigeria, West Africa subregion and various international parliamentary bodies and foremost advocate of the right and dignity of man.

“The House is also aware that Mrs Ekweremadu has had a flawless career in the Nigerian federal public service rising to the rank of director.

“The House is mindful of the value of human life. It is imperative that Miss Ekwemadu who has a life threatening ailment is not allowed to come to arms way due to the unavailability of parental care owing to their continuous detention in the United Kingdom,” the motion read.

Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, in his contribution said a criminal charge does not constitute a conviction or conclusive proof of guilt and called for fairness in the matter.

“This is merely the beginning of the judicial process to substantiate the fact of the allegation and gather sufficient evidence to sustain the charges therein. Until that process is concluded and even then let us keep in mind that at the heart of this matter there are human beings and fellow citizens whose lives have taken a turn none of us would ever wish for ourselves.

“A criminal charge does not constitute a conviction or a conclusive proof of guilt. This is merely the beginning of a judicial process to substantiate the facts of the allegations and sustain the charges therein. Until that process is completed and even then, let us keep in mind that at the heart of this matter there are human beings and fellow citizens whose life has taken a turn none of us will ever wish for ourselves. I ask the Nigerian High Commission to avail Senator Ekweremadu and his family all necessary defense and support he’ll need to defend himself.

“I believe the UK Parliament or the Congress of the United States, if their own was involved or if they have one of theirs, even a citizen, in this country that was going through the same travails, I believe that those parliaments would responsibly get involved as well. So, it is important that we apply diplomatic pressure. Nigeria has very strong diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom and all those areas must be explored. I wish the Senator and his family well. We cannot imagine what they are going through at this time.

“And I want to reiterate, like many of us have said, that Nigerians should please, whatever the political opinion is on him as a person or the National Assembly, to at least, for a moment, step back and follow the Constitution that presumed these people innocent until they are proven guilty. Facts are emerging and we have to wait to gather all the facts.

“Hopeful that the authorities in the United Kingdom would work with their National Security and Intelligence counterpart in Nigeria, to conduct a holistic and thorough investigation to ascertain all facts relating to the allegations in order to make a fair determination on the issues in the best interest of equity and justice for all concerned”, he said.

He urged the Nigerian government to use all available tools to make sure that the investigation and outcome of the issue follows the European Convention of Human Rights to which the UK is a member.

He also informed the House to mandate the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the High Commission of Nigeria the United Kingdom to take all necessary steps to make sure that Ekwerwmadu and his family are provided with Consular services.

Contributing the motion members want all government agencies to be encouraged to provide all the information needed in the prosecution of the matter.

On his part, Rep Toby Okechukwu, said that the Nigerian government needs to intervene in the Ekweremadu case.

“This matter is a matter that has to do with freedom. It has to do with the rights and dignity of man. It has to do with justice for all. It has to do with fairness. Mr Speaker, Hon colleagues, you are aware as a man of letters and a lawyer that there is a presumption of innocence and in that presumption, the law deals with reasonable doubt, beyond all reasonable doubt. Even though we are not talking about conviction, the law presupposes you have to hear the other side.

“And as the facts are emerging, it is very clear or it is an alternative narrative that shows that what may have been relied on in haste may not be the truth. So I want to thank my colleagues for bringing this up. Nobody is saying anybody who is responsible for an act should not undergo investigation or prosecution, but we must also realise that presumption of innocence means that someone should not unduly and hastily be put in such a position that he would have suffered some jeopardy before he now has a finding of innocence.

“I believe we would call the necessary authorities to ensure that there is fairness. To ensure that the facts speak to justice. What is clear also is that lives are involved and the life of a young lady is involved. If a parent is unduly denied the access to a child who is ailing, who is having an issue that can be determined summarily by a sudden shock, we need to be careful too because the issue regarding the health of the child is still a matter that is on the table. We need to look back. So I want to thank my colleagues for rising to the occasion. The silence has been deafening in terms of responsiveness to what is the matter. What are the protocols involved here?

“As a holder of a diplomatic passport, should he not be availed the use of that? More also is the fact that there should also be consular services to Mr Ukpo who is claiming to be a child, so the facts are completely ascertained. We are saying, who is the Minister of the truth here? So facts and facts and any action to be taken should be based on facts and nobody should be subject to any jeopardy, when investigations are not complete,” he said.

Also the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha, called for caution by the court of public opinion.

The House ruled that the parliament in the UK should make sure that Senator Ekweremadu gets a proper due process.

The House mandated the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the High Commission of Nigeria to the United Kingdom to take all necessary steps possible to ensure that Senator Ekweremadu and his are provided with all consular services as they may require in this time.