Jubilation Trails Reported Return of Ekweremadu’s Wife

Traders at Orie Mpu market in Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area, Enugu, burst into wild celebrations on Wednesday as news filtered in about the release of the wife of the former Deputy President of the Senate, Beatrice Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu hails from the Mpu autonomous community.

Beatrice and her husband, Ike, had been jailed in the United Kingdom by a judge at The Central Criminal Court. While Beatrice was jailed for four years and six months in March 2023 for organ harvesting, Ike, who was also found guilty of the same offence, was jailed for nine years and eight months.

News, however, filtered in on Wednesday that Mrs. Ekweremadu had returned to Nigeria after serving her jail term. It was revealed that she had rejoined her family in Abuja.

Traders at the Orie Mpu market, especially women, left their wares upon receiving the news and resorted to wild jubilation. Abandoning the market, they sang and danced to the major roads in appreciation to God for granting her safety. They were upbeat that their son, Ike, would also return soon.

Efforts to speak with her son, who is the Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Enugu State, Lynold Ekweremadu, on the development proved abortive. He could neither be reached through calls placed to his mobile number nor respond to WhatsApp messages forwarded to him.

However, President General of Mpu Town Union Federated, Benjamin Chijioke, confirmed the development, stressing that their joy knew no bounds.

“It is a great day for us. Since morning, there has been jubilation and celebration in all the villages. People are shedding tears of joy, especially those who were depending on the philanthropic disposition of the family to survive. Good news, today is our Orie market day, and the whole market was agog with celebration,” he stated.

Chijioke also prayed that God would intervene “so that our illustrious son and leader, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu, will join his family soonest. I don’t know what to do today again because their absence has brought a huge setback to the community. We missed them a lot, but we thank God for everything.”

Another member of the community, Emejonwu Abajonu, said: “To God alone be all the glory. Ike –Oha will soon come back from the leave. Our quintessential mother, you are highly welcome back.”

Kingsley Chioke stated: “Waoooh!!! That’s great news, one down, one to go, congratulations to us. To God, we give all the glory.”