The United Kingdom (UK) government has rejected the Federal Government’s request to transfer the remainder of the prison sentence of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, to Nigeria.

9news Nigeria reports that Ekweremadu is currently serving a prison sentence in the UK for organ trafficking.

He was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to nine years and eight months for conspiring to exploit a young man’s kidney.

Recall that earlier in November 2025, the Federal Government opened discussions with the UK over the possible transfer of Ekweremadu’s case.

A high-powered Nigerian delegation, which includes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, engaged with British authorities on the matter.

However, the UK Guardian, citing an unnamed Ministry of Justice (MoJ) official, reported that the UK government rejected the FG’s request regarding Ekweremadu.

The newspaper said, “A source at the MoJ has confirmed the request was rejected. It is understood the UK government was concerned that Nigeria could offer no guarantees that Ekweremadu would continue his prison sentence after being deported.

“Any prisoner transfer is at our discretion following a careful assessment of whether it would be in the interests of justice,” the UK Guardian quoted the official as saying.

“The UK will not tolerate modern slavery and any offender will face the full force of UK law.”