The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has dismissed the underage claim of organ donor in the matter involving the former deputy senate president, Mr. Ike Ekweremadu and Mr. David Nwamini
Nwamini had allegedly claimed to be a minor after he arrived in the UK where he was to donate his kidney to Ekweremadu’s daughter, Sonia.
Nwamini’s photos of his Nigerian passport, which have been trending on the social media showed his date of birth to be October 12, 2000, placing him at 21 years old.
Addressing the media in Abuja yesterday, the comptroller general of the NIS, Mr. Idris Jere, said the agency followed the due process and went through all the documents supplied by the applicant before issuing the passport to him.
“The Service wishes to set the record straight by informing the general public that the views being expressed that the service did not properly vet the breeder documents issued by the applicant during his passport application process are not correct, but mere fabrications aimed at tarnishing the image of the Service.
“The facts of the matter concerning the case above, therefore, are that the said Mr. David Ukpo Nwamini applied and paid for the Enhanced e-passport using the NIS portal after which he approached the Gwagwalada Passport Office, FCT Abuja, on November 2, 2021
“To support his application, Mr. Nwamini presented all the necessary documents required, including his birth certificate issued by National Population Commission, showing October 12, 2000, as his date of birth; his National Identity Number, issued by NIMC corroborating the date of birth; a certificate of origin issued by Ebonyi State Government Liaison Office Abuja, and a Guarantor’s form duly signed by one Mr. Uchechukwu Chukwuma Ogbonno.
“In view of the above, the general public may wish to be informed that the date of birth, or any other information, on any Nigerian passport is printed on the document only after a thorough vetting process that involves both the applicant’s breeder documents and the person. Mr. Nwamini’s case, therefore, was not an exception,” he said.
Recall that Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were arrested by The Metropolitan Police at the Heathrow Airports for alleged human trafficking and organ harvesting on Tuesday, June 21.
They were arraigned on Thursday, June 23 at Uxbridge Magistrates Court, which ordered their remand in police custody until July 7.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State government in a statement signed by the commissioner for information, Mr. Uchenna Orji, in Abakaliki, on Sunday called on the UK authorities to exercise caution on the investigation of circumstances leading to the arrest and eventual trial of the Ekweremadus.
“Ebonyi State Government is following up the turn of events and twists that followed the medical intention of the former Deputy Senate President’s family.
“While we urge the UK Government to act progressively and meticulously and critically look at the intention (mens rea) and the minds of the detained family and please give them the benefit of the doubt, we enjoin the public especially those with shades of opinions and surge of anxieties to remain calm as we hope to see light at the end of the tunnel.
“The state government is reaching out to the family of David Okemini Ukpo from Ebonyi State, whose information to the Metropolitan Authority of UK orchestrated the criminal charge against the senator and his wife.
“The state government stands with Senator Ike Ekweremadu at this trial moment and hopes that the truth and nothing but the truth shall guide the outcome of the matter,” Orji stated.
