Felix Ukpo, the father of David Nwamini, the young Nigerian man at the center of the high-profile UK organ trafficking case involving former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, has died.
The news was confirmed by Ukpo’s son, Boniface, on August 11, 2025, in Abakaliki.
Felix Ukpo had been in poor health and reportedly deeply distressed since the case emerged in 2022.
The family has not had contact with David since the ordeal began, a situation Boniface described as heart-wrenching and a heavy burden on their father’s well-being.
The case, which drew international attention, saw Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and medical doctor Obinna Obeta convicted in March 2023 at London’s Old Bailey Court for trafficking David Nwamini to the UK to harvest his kidney for the former senator’s ailing daughter.
Sentences ranged from four to ten years in prison for the convicted parties, with Ekweremadu receiving nine years and eight months.
Beatrice Ekweremadu returned to Nigeria in January 2025, though it remains unclear if she was granted a pardon or early release.
Meanwhile, David Nwamini’s whereabouts have been unknown since the conclusion of the trial, and the family had maintained silence on the matter until now.
Felix Ukpo’s passing marks a tragic chapter in a highly sensitive case that continues to evoke strong emotions and highlights serious issues surrounding human trafficking and organ harvesting.
The family’s grief underscores the lasting impact of the case beyond the courtroom, particularly for the victim’s relatives.
