Ekeomah Atuonwu
The British judge hearing the case relating to Nigerian senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, has accepted that the complainant is not a child as previously reported.
On Thursday, the two were seen in court in London where they were both charged with planning to bring an organ donor to the country.
According to the prosecution, the couple intended to have his kidney removed so that their daughter might have it.
Before he fled and went to a police station, it is also claimed that the Ekweremadus treated him like a slave.
At Westminster Magistrates Court, the defendants entered the dock and spoke merely to confirm their names, dates of birth, and addresses.
Mr Ekweremadu is charged with conspiracy to arrange or facilitate travel of another person with a view to exploitation, while his wife is charged with arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation.
The couple were not asked to enter pleas, but the court heard they have indicated not guilty pleas and that they denied there was a criminal conspiracy.
The public gallery was packed with supporters, representatives from the Nigerian high commission and family members.
AEM had reported that the police became aware of the case on May 5 when the complainant arrived at a police station.
The 20-minute hearing was presided over by Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram, who sent the case to a higher court to be heard on August 4. The senator and his wife will remain in custody.
