A former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, his wife, Beatrice, have been found guilty of organ trafficking in the United Kingdom.
The duo alongside their daughter, Sonia, and a medical doctor, Dr. Obinna Obeta, were found guilty of facilitating the travel of a young man to Britain with a view to his exploitation after a six-week trial at the Old Bailey.
They criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney, the jury found on Thursday.
The judge, Justice Jeremy Johnson, will pass a sentence at a later date, The Guardian UK reports.
Organ trafficking is a serious criminal offense in London and carries severe penalties. If someone is found guilty of organ trafficking in London, they can face imprisonment and hefty fines.
Under the Human Tissue Act 2004, it is illegal to buy or sell organs in the UK. If someone is found guilty of organ trafficking, they can face up to three years in prison, a fine, or both.
However, if the trafficking involves exploitation, the penalty can be up to 14 years in prison, a fine, or both.
In addition to criminal penalties, individuals involved in organ trafficking may also face social and ethical consequences, including social stigma, loss of reputation, and damage to their professional and personal relationships.