UK's University of Lincoln bans Ekweremadu from acting in his capacity as visiting professor

BRITAIN'S University of Lincoln has banned Nigeria's former deputy senate president Senator Ike Ekweremadu from undertaking any further duties as a visiting professor of the institution in  response to his arrest for suspected organ harvesting.

Senator Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice were arrested by London's Metropolitan Police on suspicion of child trafficking and planned organ harvesting. They were charged before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court with conspiracy to arrange/facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, namely organ harvesting.

Both of them were denied bail and have been remanded in custody until July 7 when the case will next be heard. On may 26 this year, the University of Lincoln had appointed Senator Ekweremadu as a visiting professor of corporate governance and international linkages, with his tenure running from May 2022 to May 2025.

His appointment letter signed by the deputy vice chancellor, Professor Andrew Hunter, read: “A visiting professorship is one which is awarded to distinguished individuals of recognised academic and/or professional standing, whose association with a department of the university will support its academic endeavour and provide the highest source of advice and wise counsel in that discipline. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to our academic community and thank you for your willingness to be associated with the University of Lincoln.”

However, following the incident of the last few days, the university has opted to suspend the senator, pending the determination of his court case. Apparently, Senator Ekweremadu and his wife met with members of the Nigerian community in Lincoln just before his arrest.

A University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “Visiting professors are often, as is in this case, non-resident at the university, unpaid and advisory. We are deeply concerned about the nature of these allegations but as this is an active police investigation, we cannot comment further at this stage.

“Whilst this matter is subject to investigation, this person will not be undertaking any duties as visiting professor at Lincoln.  In 2018, Senator Ekweremadu was appointed as a professor and mentoring scholar of e-governance and strategic government studies at the Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the US but so far, the institution is yet to react to his arrest.