In the issue involving former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the supreme Igbo socio-cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has once more called with the United Kingdom to balance justice with mercy.

The Ekweremadus, who are undergoing an organ harvesting trial in the UK, will be sentenced on Wednesday, May 5.

Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the national president of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, asked with the UK to pardon Ekweremadu, his wife, and the third accused defendant, a doctor, in a statement that was made accessible to the media on Thursday.

He pleaded that, “We want to, for the umpteenth time, beg the UK authorities to temper justice with mercy in deciding the case of Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a man who has been living his life for the people.

We know for sure that he couldn’t have committed the offense knowingly; he has never been convicted of any crime prior to this incident.

“It is also important to draw your attention to the plight of thousands of students who are enjoying university scholarships courtesy of Ikeoha Foundation, a pet project of the Ekweremadus.

"As we speak, those students are already stranded in different universities both in Nigeria and other parts of the world ever since this trial commenced. All their hopes and aspirations are on Senator Ekweremadu through his Foundation. Many others are also dependent on him for their survival.

“It is owing to this that we appeal to the United Kingdom to grant him clemency as lessons have already been learnt from their period of detention.

“The life of the daughter, our fellow youth, should also be considered.