A member of staff at the Royal Free Hospital became embroiled in a failed bid to persuade doctors to approve an illegal kidney transplant for the daughter of a wealthy Nigerian politician, a court has heard.

Evelyn ‘Ebere’ Agbasonu was a long-standing member of staff at the Hampstead hospital, where she worked as a medical secretary, jurors heard.

Ms Agbasonu allegedly asked for £1,500 to help secure Sonia Ekweremadu’s private kidney transplant in February 2022.

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Sonia, her parents Ike and Beatrice Ekweremadu, who have an address in Willesden Green, and medical “middleman” Dr Obinna Obeta allegedly conspired to exploit a poor street trader to bring him to the UK and harvest his kidney.

At the time, Ike Ekweremadu, 60, was deputy president of the Nigerian Senate.

The Old Bailey has been told it was a “transactional” deal, with the 21-year-old man to be paid up to £7,000 for the harvesting of his body part and the promise of opportunities in the UK.

The prosecution claims the procedure was not legal as the organ donor was a street trader from Lagos who had no altruistic motive or family connection with the 25-year-old recipient.

Ms Agbasonu had stepped in to interpret Igbo during an initial meeting on February 24 between Dr Peter Dupont and the donor from Nigeria, who spoke little English.

The consultant had concluded that the young man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was not an appropriate candidate and appeared relieved that the transplant would not go ahead.

Prosecutor Hugh Davies KC said it was “somewhat extraordinary” that, according to messages from others, Ms Agbasonu appeared to agree to manipulate a second meeting to the advantage of the Ekweremadu family.

Mr Ekweremadu’s medically trained brother, Diwe, allegedly laid out the financial agreement to him, saying: “I’ve met the Igbo interpreter. She agreed to work with us.

“She will be involved in coaching the boy, and during his consultation and interviews she will be providing the relevant interpretation. She insisted that I give her £1,500.”

On March 11, the donor attended a meeting with a surgeon at the Royal Free Hospital and the interpreter, the court heard.

Afterwards, Diwe allegedly messaged Ms Ekweremadu’s father: “I have spoken with (the interpreter). She said the boy did better today but he’s still showing so much timidity.

“She covered up for him and added the words as much as possible.”

Mr Davies told jurors that the surgeon agreed with Dr Dupont that the donor was unsuitable and Ms Ekweremadu was informed of the decision on March 29.

On May 5 last year, the original donor presented himself at Staines police station in south-west London, saying he had been trafficked from Nigeria to provide a kidney and had been walking for three days.

In June last year, the Ekweremadus were arrested after Ike and Beatrice arrived at Heathrow Airport from Turkey.

Ike, Beatrice and Sonia Ekweremadu, and Dr Obeta, 50, from Southwark, deny conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of the young man with a view to exploitation between August 1 2021 and May 5 2022.

The trial continues.