Ekweremadu: Court Rules On Donor’s Suit December 5

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, set December 5 for a ruling on an application brought before it by the alleged organ harvest victim, David Ukpo, seeking to prevent the release of his bio-data to a London Court, where a former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife are facing trial over alleged organ harvest.

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the ruling date after taking arguments from Ekweremadu and Ukpo.

The judge indicated that both parties could be recalled for an early date should the ruling be ready before the December 5 date.

Ukpo had, through his counsel, Bamidele Igbinedion, prayed the court to set aside the July 1 order, which permitted the release of his personal information and bio-data to the Uxbridge Magistrate Court and the Central Criminal Court of the United Kingdom without giving him a fair hearing by the court.

According to him, the entire proceedings that led to the order of the court were made in his absence, and he added that the documents so released to the UK court are false.

Igbinedion told the court that since the bio-data information, bank mandate card and account opening package, application form for an international passport, and bank verification information are the subject matter of the originating motion filed by Ekweremadu and his wife, Ukpo ought to have been joined as a mandatory or necessary party.

He said the order made by the court was prejudicial to Ukpo, even as he said the Attorney-General of the Federation has no power under the law to transmit personal and private data of a person to a foreign land.

Igbinedion, therefore, asked the court to reverse its order permitting the release of Ukpo’s bio-data to Ekweremadu and his wife for their defence before Uxbridge Magistrate Court in London.

However, Ekweremadu, through his counsel, Eyitayo Fatogun (SAN), in his objection, asked the court to dismiss Ukpo’s suit.

Fatogun told the court that Ukpo has no reason to be concerned about the release of his visa application information and bank account opening package unless he lied about his true age.