The House of Representative Committee on Public Petitions has demanded that the CEO of Alliance Hospital, Dr. Christopher Otabor, along with three others should face charges of alleged organ harvesting before a court of law.
The Assembly threw its weight behind the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons on the case of organ harvesting against the hospital.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that this decision comes after months of investigation and legal proceedings following a petition filed by Dr. Otabor challenging his detention by NAPTIP.
A statement issued by Communication Officer, NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent stated that the case, which has been brewing since March 18, 2024, when the defendants were arraigned before the High Court of the FCT, revolves around accusations of organ (kidney) harvesting.
The statement further read that Dr. Otabor, alongside Emmanuel Muyiwa Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, and Dr. Aremu Abayomi, has been ordered to report to NAPTIP Headquarters in Abuja daily and surrender their travel documents to the court while on bail.
NAPTIP explained that during a session on April 18th, 2024, the Director of the Legal and Prosecution Department of NAPTIP, Mr. Hassan Tahir, informed the Committee that the matter was already before a court of competent jurisdiction, emphasising the importance of respecting legal proceedings.
The trial is set to commence on May 6th, 2024.
In a decisive ruling, the Chairman of the Committee, Honourable Mike Etaba, emphasised the importance of due process, instructing Dr. Otabor to return to court and face the charges brought against him.
This ruling underscores the National Assembly’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that serious allegations such as organ harvesting are addressed through proper legal channels.
The decision to compel the defendants to face the charges demonstrates a resolute stance against human trafficking and illegal organ harvesting, signalling a significant step towards justice and accountability in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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