'It's a test' - Mbah reveals plans to bring Ekweremadu back to Nigeria from UK prison

Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah has announced that efforts are being made to enable former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu to return from the United Kingdom to Nigeria to serve out the remainder of his prison term. According to Mbah, the state government is liaising with relevant Nigerian authorities to explore arrangements that would allow Ekweremadu to return home while still serving his sentence.

During an interview with BBC Igbo, Mbah described the circumstances surrounding Ekweremadu's imprisonment as a tragedy that could befall any parent. Ekweremadu was handed a prison sentence in the UK after being found guilty of conspiring to help a young man travel to Britain for the purpose of removing his kidney. The kidney was intended for Mbah's daughter Sonia, who was suffering from a kidney condition.

Mbah reassured the public that the government is still in communication with Ekweremadu and is appealing to Nigerian authorities to collaborate with their British counterparts to facilitate his return to Nigeria. He emphasized that the situation is a test and that they are among those urging Nigerian authorities to work with their British counterparts to ensure Ekweremadu serves his full sentence in Nigeria.

The governor also expressed empathy for Ekweremadu, stating that parents dealing with serious health concerns for their children would understand the desperation to save their children's lives. Mbah noted that those who have never had children cannot fully comprehend the lengths a father would go to support or aid his child during a health crisis.