LONDON, UK — The Metropolitan Police are conducting a new investigation connected to the case of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who was sentenced to 10 years in a British prison last year for human trafficking.
This revelation emerged in the recently released documentary Daniel vs Ekweremadu, directed by award-winning filmmaker Chude Jideonwo.
Part one of the two-part documentary series, which premiered on August 23, 2024 provides a deep dive into the controversial case that led to Ekweremadu’s conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act.
It features exclusive interviews with British prosecutors, police, and the family of the victim, known only by the pseudonym “Daniel,” as mandated by the court to protect his identity.
In an email shown in the documentary, Alexandra Meek, Senior Communication Manager for the Metropolitan Police, confirmed the ongoing investigation.
“With regards to the live investigation, which is linked – On Tuesday, 8 November 2022, detectives from the Met’s Specialist Crime arrested a woman on suspicion of conspiracy to exploit for the purposes of organ harvesting,” Meek wrote.
“The woman, who is in her 50s, has been released under investigation. Enquiries remain ongoing.”
This new investigation, while separate, is closely related to the Ekweremadu case, which saw the former Nigerian politician, his wife Beatrice, and a doctor, Obinna Obeta, sentenced for their roles in attempting to harvest a kidney from the young man known as Daniel.
The case was the first conviction under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act for organ harvesting, marking a significant legal precedent.
Due to the ongoing nature of this investigation, Meek cited the inability of the police to fully participate in the documentary at this time, further highlighting the sensitivity and complexity of the case.
Daniel vs Ekweremadu portrays the dramatic fall of Senator Ekweremadu from his powerful position in Nigerian politics to his current status as a convicted felon in the UK.
The documentary also sheds light on the broader issue of human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals, a crisis that continues to draw international attention.
The series, shot across Nigeria and the United Kingdom, is available exclusively on the streaming platform withChude.com.
It is part of a growing slate of factual films produced by Chude Jideonwo Presents, an independent studio known for its impactful storytelling on African issues.
As the second part of the documentary series prepares to be released, the ongoing investigation linked to the Ekweremadu case serves as a reminder of the far-reaching consequences of this landmark conviction and the continuing fight against human trafficking.
The trailer for Daniel vs Ekweremadu is available on Instagram, and the series can be streamed on withChude.com, a platform dedicated to content that explores critical social issues affecting Africa.
