Felix Ukpo, father of Boniface Ukpo, who is at the center of the UK organ trafficking case involving former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has passed away.
Boniface confirmed his father’s death on Monday, August 11, in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State.
In March 2023, Mr. Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and medical doctor Obinna Obeta were convicted by London’s Old Bailey Court for trafficking 21-year-old David Nwamini to the UK with the intention of harvesting his kidney for the ailing daughter of the former senator. The case attracted widespread international attention.
Boniface revealed that his father’s health had deteriorated and he had been heartbroken since the case began in 2022. He also noted that the family has not been in contact with David since the incident.
“My father died yesterday (Sunday) at 12 p.m. It’s very sad that since the incident happened in 2022, we have not spoken to my brother David Nwamini. My father has been unwell because of this saga, and yesterday he finally passed away,” Boniface said.
Following the conviction, Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife Beatrice received four years and six months, while Dr. Obeta was sentenced to 10 years. Beatrice returned to Nigeria in January 2025, months before completing her sentence; it remains unclear if she was granted a UK pardon.
David’s current whereabouts remain unknown since the trial concluded, and the family had kept silent until now.
