Kayode Ajulo, a legal practitioner, has stated that the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday is an excellent chance for those seeking pardons on behalf of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to do so.
Ekweremadu, who was convicted of organ trafficking in March alongside his wife Beatrice and doctor Obinna Obeta by the Central Criminal Court in London, was sentenced to prison on Friday (today).
Prior to the sentencing, a number of high-profile groups and individuals, including the Senate, House of Representatives, ECOWAS Parliament, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, appealed to the court requesting clemency for Ekweremadu.
However, Ajulo, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, feels the letters were “erroneously” written. He stated that it could be interpreted as interfering with court proceedings, but he presented a better solution.
“Now that Ekweremadu has been sentenced, this is the time to do that (ask for pardon). Tomorrow King Charles III will be coronated as the King of England, as the Head of State.
“There is what is called royal prerogative for pardon, I believe anybody that wants to write a letter, anybody that wants to make a plea for Ekweremadu, this is the best time to ask the sovereignty of the United Kingdom; that is His Majesty King Charles III to pardon Ekweremadu.
“The precedent has been there since as far back as 1717, King George did the same. In 2003 and even as close as 2021, the same thing happened. Sovereign can do that and I believe that is the plea we need to do for Ekweremadu, not to be writing and interfering with the conduct of the court,” Ajulo said.
At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife Beatrice to four years and six months, and Obeta to ten years.
The three were convicted of organising or assisting the entry of a young Nigerian man into the United Kingdom in order to collect his kidney on behalf of their daughter Sonia.
