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‘My Family Has History Of Kidney Conditions’ — Sonia Ekweremadu

Sonia Ekweremadu, daughter of the former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said that her parents sought a kidney donor for her from outside because of the family’s health history.

Gatekeepers News reports that Sonia disclosed this in an interview with BBC following the sentencing of her father to nine years and eight months in prison by a UK court for organ trafficking.

Ekweremadu’s wife, Beatrice was also sentenced to four years and six months in jail.

The couple got entangled in the organ trafficking case while trying to find a donor for their 25-year-old daughter who has been on dialysis.

Sonia explained that she had a gene that necessitated her to find a donor outside family members.

In March, Ekweremadu told a UK court that he opted for a non-family kidney donor for Sonia following advice from Diwe, his brother who is a medical doctor.

BBC quoted Sonia as saying, “It’s sad. It has been really hard to really wrap my head around it. I understand the conviction; personally, I disagree with it. However, that is from a very biased perspective. As their daughter, I would obviously always back my parents. However, the law has taken its course and we have to just move forward as a family.

“I had the APO1 gene. To us, that kind of excluded the family, especially on my dad’s side because they have quite a history of kidney conditions.”

Asked if she was aware that the donor at the centre of the case was portrayed as her cousin, she replied, “Yea, I mean, I can’t answer that”.

Sonia added that she did not “feel anything toward him” and that she “wish him all the best”.

The 25-year-old said that she felt guilty for the plight that has befallen her family, adding that her lesson from the whole incident is that life is dynamic.

She said, “Life is just so dynamic. One day you are in your house chilling, the next day, your whole life is turned upside down.

“I don’t think it would ever be the same. I feel guilty because I feel that all this has happened because of me.”

Sonia added that though some persons came forward as donors after the case went public, she is still on dialysis but “hopefully, I would be able to get the transplant soon.”

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