The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken legal action against Christopher Otabor, the medical director of Alliance Hospital in Abuja, and three others, over accusations of involvement in organ harvesting.
Otabor, Emmanuel Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, and Aremu Abayomi were arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Zuba on Monday, facing charges related to trafficking in persons and illegal organ removal.
According to the prosecution counsel, Hassan Tahir, Olorunlaye allegedly recruited two 17-year-old boys and a 25-year-old man, Aminu Yahuza, for kidney removal procedures at Alliance Hospital in February 2023.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Otabor facilitated the accommodation of the victims at the hospital, while Abayomi performed the surgeries. Ugochukwu is accused of assisting in the kidney removal process.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge brought against them.
During the bail hearing, Richard Adeboju, representing Olorunlaye, and Afam Osigwe, representing the other defendants, requested bail for their clients, emphasizing their responsibility as business owners and family members.
While the prosecution did not oppose the bail application, they urged the court to expedite the trial process.
In her ruling, Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya stated that administrative bail granted prior to arraignment does not dictate court bail conditions.
She ordered the defendants to sign in daily at NAPTIP headquarters and deposit their travel documents with the court registrar, warning them to comply with the conditions or risk having their bail revoked.
The court set May 6, 9, and 13 for further proceedings and emphasized the need for an expedited hearing of the case.
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