Felix Ukpo, the father of David Nwamini, a Nigerian youth at the center of a UK organ trafficking case involving former Nigerian senator, Ike Ekweremadu, has died, his son Boniface confirmed on Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Ukpo had reportedly suffered emotional distress over his son’s ordeal and the prolonged absence from his family since the case emerged in 2022.
According to Boniface, Ukpo, who died on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m, had not spoken to David since the incident happened in 2022, adding that the deceased has been sick over the saga.

The case traces back to June 2022 when Ekweremadu, then Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, his wife Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, were arrested and charged in the UK for allegedly trafficking David to harvest his kidney to aid their ailing daughter.

The incident led to the trio’s conviction by the Old Bailey Court in March 2023.

Ekweremadu was sentenced to nine years and eight months in prison, his wife received a sentence of four years and six months, while Dr. Obeta was sentenced to 10 years. Beatrice was released and returned to Nigeria in January 2025, although it remains unclear whether she completed her full sentence or was granted clemency.

Since the conclusion of the trial, the whereabouts of David have remained unknown, and the family has maintained silence on his situation. Boniface expressed regret over the pain and heartbreak endured by their father due to the circumstances surrounding his brother’s case.