Ekweremadu: release David’s bio-data to UK, Court orders

 

Ekweremadu

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the National Identification Management Commission to immediately release the bio-data of David Ukpo to the Attorney-General of the Federation for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court.

The court issued the order following a request to that effect by the NIMC and in response to the request of the detained former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, to defend himself in a London court.

Although the court had on July 1 issued an order that the four respondents sued by Ekweremadu release details of David Ukpo to him and his detained wife, Beatrice, the NIMC did not obey the order.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the NIMC, represented by Muazu Mohammed, informed Justice Ekwo that his client could not obey the order of the court because it was not served with hearing notice before the order was issued against it.

Mohammed, who earlier asked for revocation of the order later amended his motion on notice.

In place of revocation of the order, the counsel requested that his client be directed to submit information on David Ukpo to the AGF instead of Ekweremadu for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court detaining the Nigerian Senator.

The request was not opposed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN who stood for Ekweremadu.

Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the request and ordered NIMC to submit the bio-data to the AGF for onward transmission to London Court.

Ekweremadu and wife had, in the application dated and filed on June 27 by Awomolo, dragged the NIMC and four others to the FHC.

The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service; Stanbic-IBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc were listed as 2nd to 5th respondents.

The couple were, on June 23, remanded in the UK police custody after they were arraigned before the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court for alleged conspiracy to facilitate the travel of David Ukpo, alleged to be a minor, for organ harvesting.

They, however, denied the allegations and the court adjourned till July 7 for hearing.