The Central Criminal Court in the United Kingdom has adjourned the alleged organ harvesting case which involved the former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, to October 31.

According to The Cable, Ekweremadu will be remanded in custody as the judge in the case will hear the pretrial applications on October 31, but the trial will commence fully on May 2, 2023.

Ekweremadu, the lawmaker representing Enugu West Senatorial District, and his wife, Beatrice, are facing charges that border on conspiracy to arrange/facilitate the travel of another person with a view towards exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

The couple was arrested by the London Metropolitan Police in June and they appeared before a magistrate court in July. Ekweremadu’s wife was granted bail on July 22.

At the court on Thursday, Ekweremadu asked that a new lawyer represent him.

The police had alleged that David Ukpo, the reported victim at the centre of the organ harvesting allegation, is a 15-year-old but the court has ruled that he is 21.

Earlier, Ekweremadu had written to the UK high commission in December 2021 to support a visa application for Ukpo. In the letter, he said Ukpo was undergoing medical investigations for a kidney donation to Sonia Ekweremadu, his daughter, who is in need of a kidney transplant.

He said both Ukpo and Sonia will be at the Royal Free Hospital London. Ekweremadu’s appearance in the UK court is the third time since his arrest