Beatrice Ekweremadu, the wife of former Senate Deputy President Ike Ekweremadu, has denied any involvement in finding an organ donor for their ailing daughter, Sonia.
Beatrice was arrested with her husband in the UK last year for allegedly smuggling a young man into the country for a kidney.
She denied the charges on Monday at the Old Bailey in London, where she is being triedalongside her husband, daughter and a doctor, Obinna Obeta.
It is thought the boy was misrepresented as Sonia’s cousin in an unsuccessful attempt to convince doctors to perform a £80,000 private procedure at the Royal Free Hospital.
Regarding the family’s finances, Beatrice told the court that her husband took care of the house, just as she pointed out that she only did the household chores, including visiting their children at the school in UK every two weeks.
As for how they found out their daughter had kidney problems, her husband said Sonia fell ill in 2019 and was diagnosed with it in England.
Sonia returned to London to see doctors at Cromwell Hospital and then the Royal Free, jurors were told.
The defence lawyer, Anu Mohindru KC, said, “There are text messages from your husband keeping you informed of what was happening. Is that something he would do?”
The defendant replied: “Yes. He tells me what he thinks I need to know.”
The lawyer went on to inquire if Ekweremadu had relayed his discussions with his medically trained brother, Diwe.
Beatrice told jurors she regarded Diwe Ekweremadu as the family doctor but did not ask about it.
It is alleged that Diwe’s former classmate, Obeta, offered to help the family.
Mohindru asked the defendant if she was involved in identifying any candidates, which Mrs Ekweremadu denied.
The Ekweremadus, who have an address in Willesden Green, North-West London, and Obeta, from Southwark, South London, deny the charges against them and the trial continues.