"A senior Nigerian senator, his wife, and a doctor have been found guilty… of exploiting a vulnerable victim for illegal organ harvesting," found a judge at Britain’s Central Criminal Court, the Old Bailey on Thursday (March 23).

It is the first verdict of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act in the UK. The accused has been described in the British press as "owning several properties", "having a staff of 80," and considerable power.

The victim in question is a Nigerian migrant, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said in a statement. He can’t be named for legal reasons, but the British newspaper The Guardian reported that he was a 21-year-old Lagos street trader when he was brought over to the UK.

During the six-week trial, the Metropolitan Police and the CPS presented evidence that they said showed that 60-year-old Ike and 56-year-old Beatrice Ekweremadu had conspired with 51-year-old doctor Obinna Obeta to "identify individuals in Nigeria whose kidneys might be harvested" for their daughter Sonia Ekweremadu's benefit.

The transplant was reported by the BBC to be a private transplant that was due to cost around €90,000 if it had been carried out.

Trafficked from Nigeria

Sonia Ekweremadu (25) suffers from a kidney disease and needs regular dialysis. Her illness forced her to drop out of the master's degree in film she was pursuing in the UK, reported the Guardian.

According to the CPS, the victim was brought to London in February 2022 and "kept under the direction and financial control of the defendants." Their plan, said the CPS "was for the victim to provide a kidney to Sonia Ekweremadu in exchange for the suggested amount of either €2,700 or €7,900." The two figures were uncovered during the investigation, states the CPS, as well as the promise of work in the UK.

Police discovered the case after the victim of the plot entered a police station in Staines (near London) on May 5, 2022. At the police station, he reported he had been trafficked from Nigeria into the UK and that someone was trying to transplant his kidney.

Although he had been promised opportunities in the UK, he says he only really realized what was going on when he attended a hospital appointment.

Prior to going to the police, the victim had attended a kidney screening exam at the Royal Free Hospital in London with a consultant doctor. During the case, it was found that the consultant himself had become suspicious about the circumstances surrounding the proposed transplant and decided the transplant could not go ahead.

Posed as cousins

The prosecution demonstrated during the trial their belief that the accused "took steps to create a false impression that the victim and Sonia Ekweremadu were cousins." They said this was both necessary to justify the victim’s temporary visa to travel to the UK. The prosecution says the victim was also coached in order to provide "false answers to the Royal Free medical team."

In earlier media reports during the trial, the Guardian and the BBC reported that the victim had even been asked to dress up and eat at a posh restaurant with Sonia and her family to create the impression that he was there to willingly donate a kidney to a family member.

The Guardian also reported that a medical secretary at the Royal Free Hospital had posed as an Igbo translator "for a fee" to try and help convince doctors the victim was an altruistic donor.

The prosecutor Hugh Davies KC told the court, reported the Guardian, the Ekweremadus, and Obeta had treated the man and other potential donors as "disposable assets – spare parts for reward." He said they entered an "emotionally cold commercial transaction" with the man.

On finding out the first man was not going to work out, the BBC reported that the Ekweremadus began to search in Turkey for another suitable donor.

Modern Slavery Act

Joanne Jakymec, the Chief Crown Prosecutor, stated that "the convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victim’s welfare, health and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having a limited understanding of what was really going on here."

The case has been brought under the UK's Modern Slavery laws. Detective Inspector Esther Richardson, from the Met’s Modern Slavery and Exploitation Command, called the conviction "landmark" and commended "the victim for his bravery in speaking against these offenders."

The Metropolitan Police Modern Slavery and Exploitation Command team promised to support any victims of modern slavery and make sure they are "supported, signposted and safeguarded," during their progression to trial.

The defendants were found guilty of the "conspiracy to arrange the travel of another person with a view to exploitation." Sonia Ekweremadu was found not guilty in the case. She also did not give evidence at the trial.

The judge is expected to pass a sentence on May 5. All defendants deny the charges against them.