Biography
Ike Ekweremadu is a prominent Nigerian politician and lawyer born on 12 May 1962 in Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. He began his political career in 1997 when he was elected to represent his constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly. In 2003, he was elected to the Nigerian Senate, representing Enugu West Senatorial District, a position he held for five consecutive terms until 2019.
During his time in the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu held several leadership positions, including Deputy President of the Senate, a position he held for four consecutive terms from 2007 to 2019, making him the longest-serving Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate. He is also known for his contributions to the development of the Nigerian legal system. He was instrumental in the promulgation of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution and is the author of several books on constitutional law and democracy in Nigeria.
Apart from politics, Ike Ekweremadu is also a philanthropist and education promoter. He has funded and facilitated the construction of several schools, hospitals and other social amenities in his constituency.
Nigerian politician
Ike Ekweremadu |
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 Ike Ekweremadu: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Full name: | Ike Ekweremadu |
| Born: | May 12, 1962 (age 62) |
| Place of birth: | Mpu, Aninri, Enugu, Nigeria |
| State of origin: | Enugu State |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Height: | Do not have |
| Parents: | Igwe Mathias Ekweremadu |
| Siblings: | Do not have |
| Couple: | Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | Do not have |
| The children: | Sonia Ekweremadu, Sylvia Ekweremadu |
| Job: | Politician • Lawyer |
| Net worth: | 50 million dollars |
Early life
Ike Ekweremadu, a formidable Nigerian politician and legal personality, was born on the 12th of May 1962 in Mpu, a peaceful and serene town located in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. His father’s name is Igwe Mathias Ekweremadu.
As a young man, he was imbued with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a passion for leadership, which he displayed brilliantly during his school years at the prestigious St. John’s Secondary School in Mpu.
Ike Ekweremadu then attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he achieved an enviable academic record, culminating in a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1987 and a Master of Laws (LLM) in 1991. Notably, his academic achievements were marked by a rare combination of erudition, intellectual curiosity and visionary leadership, which endeared him to his peers and mentors.
In addition to his academic prowess, Ike Ekweremadu was also actively involved in student politics, where he began his career as a leader of men. He was a charismatic figure who commanded the respect and admiration of his contemporaries, culminating in his election as President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) from 1989 to 1991. He was also the Secretary General of the African Youth Congress and the Commonwealth Youth Council, where he established himself as a strong advocate for youth empowerment, human rights and democracy.
Career
Ike Ekweremadu, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics and jurisprudence, has had a fascinating career marked by many achievements and significant contributions to the development of the country. A lawyer by training, he began his political career in 1997 when he was elected to represent his constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly. During his tenure in the assembly, he built a reputation for his immense intellectual prowess and shrewd political moves that set him apart from his peers.
In 2003, Ike Ekweremadu ran for a seat in the Nigerian Senate and won, representing the Enugu West Senatorial District. He held the position for five consecutive terms, becoming the longest-serving senator from his district. During his time in the Senate, he held several leadership positions, including Vice President of the Senate, a position he held for four consecutive terms from 2007 to 2019.
As Vice President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu played a key role in the passage of many important bills and resolutions that positively impacted Nigeria’s political and economic landscape. His contributions to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, his support for the establishment of the Congressional Budget and Research Office, and his role in resolving the Niger Delta crisis are notable examples of his influence on Nigerian governance.
Apart from politics, Ike Ekweremadu is a renowned legal scholar, and his work on constitutional law and democracy in Nigeria is highly regarded both nationally and internationally. He has written several books on these topics, contributing significantly to the development of Nigeria’s legal system.
Despite losing the 2019 Nigerian Senate elections, Ike Ekweremadu’s influence and impact on Nigerian politics remains significant. His dedication to democracy, good governance and the rule of law, and his philanthropic efforts have made him a beloved figure in Nigerian politics and society.
Argumentative
In August 2019, news broke that Ike Ekweremadu’s wife and daughter were attacked by several men at their home in London. The incident caused a wave of controversy, as it was reported that the attackers were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group that he had publicly criticized. The incident left Ike Ekweremadu heavily criticized by the Nigerian public, who accused him of hypocrisy for publicly condemning IPOB while his family members were living in the UK, where they were allegedly attacked by IPOB members.
Ike Ekweremadu, in response, condemned the attack on his family members and called on the British authorities to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. He also denied any involvement with IPOB and called for an end to the rising tensions between the group and the Nigerian government. The incident caused a significant stir in Nigerian politics, with some politicians and analysts accusing him of hypocrisy and opportunism. Others defended him, saying he was a victim of circumstances and had always been committed to promoting peace and unity in Nigeria.
In 2022, Ike Ekweremadu, former Vice President of the Nigerian Senate, his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu and Dr Obinna Obeta were convicted of facilitating the travel of a young man from Lagos to the UK for exploitation. The 21-year-old street vendor was illegally offered a reward to donate a kidney to the senator’s daughter, who had suffered from kidney disease and was forced to drop out of her master’s degree at Newcastle University. Ekweremadu and Obeta were found to have conspired to smuggle the young man to London for this purpose.
In February 2022, the man falsely presented himself at a private kidney unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London as Sonia Ekweremadu’s cousin in a failed attempt to persuade doctors to carry out an £80,000 transplant. Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC accused the Ekweremadus and Obeta of treating the man and other potential donors as “disposable assets – spare parts in exchange for rewards” and engaging in an “emotionally cold commercial transaction” with him. Their daughter, Sonia Ekweremadu, was cleared of all charges.
Despite being a successful lawyer and founder of an anti-poverty charity who helped draft Nigeria’s anti-organ trafficking law, Ike Ekweremadu’s conduct in this case has been described as “entitlement, dishonesty and hypocrisy,” according to Davies. The prosecution argued that he agreed to reward someone for donating a kidney to his daughter, a poor person he had shunned and did not want to have direct contact with to protect his own political interests. He denied the charges, claiming he was the victim of a scam, while Obeta said the man acted altruistically and did not offer any reward for his kidney. Nwanneka Ekweremadu denied any knowledge of the plot.
During the court proceedings, WhatsApp messages were introduced into evidence, revealing that Obeta had charged Ike Ekweremadu a total of 4.5 million naira (around £8,000) in “agent fees” and “donation fees”. Ike Ekweremadu and Obeta admitted providing false information by claiming the man was Sonia’s cousin on his visa application and hospital admission paperwork.
According to Davies, Ike Ekweremadu deliberately ignored medical advice to find donors from actual family members for his daughter, instead choosing to pay for the procedure from a pool of donors. He claims that he never intended to involve a family member, regardless of whether they were close or related to the family.
Sentencing in the case will be announced by Judge Jeremy Johnson on May 5.
Personal life
Ike Ekweremadu is a Nigerian politician born on 12 May 1962 in Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. He is a lawyer by profession and has been a member of the Nigerian Senate since 2003, representing Enugu West Senatorial District. He has two daughters named Sylvia Ekweremadu and Sonia Ekweremadu.
Regarding his personal life, Ike Ekweremadu is married and has children. He is married to Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu and they have four children. Not much is known about his wife as she is private and not involved in politics.
Ike Ekweremadu is known to be a family man who values his family above all else. He has been quoted as saying that his family is his source of strength and inspiration. He is also known to keep his family life private and away from the public eye.
Apart from his political career, he is a devout Christian and is actively involved in his church. He is a member of the Catholic Church and is known to have participated in church activities.
Net worth
Ike Ekweremadu, a Nigerian politician, is said to have amassed a net worth of around $50 million.
