A high-level delegation sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with officials at the UK Ministry of Justice on November 10, 2025, to discuss the situation of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
The Nigerian team, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar and Attorney General and Minister of Justice Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, represents a renewed diplomatic engagement by the Tinubu administration on the matter. After the meeting, the delegation visited the Nigerian High Commission in London, where they were welcomed by Ambassador Mohammed Maidugu, the Acting High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
This visit highlights Nigeria’s continuing commitment to constructive dialogue with the United Kingdom on issues involving its citizens abroad.
Senator Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and a medical doctor were convicted in March 2023 under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act for arranging the travel of a young Nigerian man to the UK. Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife to four years and six months, and the doctor to ten years. The case, the first of its kind under the Modern Slavery Act, attracted wide international attention.
The current talks recall previous instances where Nigerian and British authorities have worked through complex legal matters, such as the case of former Delta State Governor James Ibori and the P&ID arbitration issue, which were both resolved through established legal and diplomatic channels. Many observers see this latest effort as part of Nigeria’s broader commitment to maintaining strong international relations while ensuring fair treatment for its citizens.
