Daud Olatunji
A young Nigerian, Samuel Ezekiel, has recounted how he was allegedly deceived by his friend, Emmanuel Odeh, into undergoing kidney removal after being falsely assured that the procedure would not affect his health.
Ezekiel alleged that Odeh changed his identity to “Hassan Abubakar” and facilitated his movement through a process involving medical tests, court documentation and surgery at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja.
He made the disclosure on Friday when the Nigeria Police Force paraded suspects linked to an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State.
According to him, Odeh initially told him they were going to a hospital without revealing the full details of what awaited him.
“It’s my friend that deceived me. His name is Emmanuel Udeh,” Ezekiel said.
He said Odeh subsequently introduced him to another man identified as David, who took him to an agent, Ben, for medical tests.
Ezekiel explained that his initial test results did not match those of the intended kidney recipient, but the agent later informed him that another recipient had been found.
It was at that stage, he alleged, that the syndicate told him his identity would be changed.
“Then he now said that they are going to change my name, that I will be bearing Hassan Abubakar,” he said.
Ezekiel said the group subsequently took him to the Federal High Court, where an affidavit was prepared before he was taken to Wellington Hospital.
He said documents were signed at the hospital before he was taken for the operation.
According to the victim, money in dollars was handed over to them late at night shortly before he entered the theatre.
“After we sign, then later in the night around 10:00 to 11:00, they now come and give us money in dollars,” he said.
He alleged that he handed the money to Odeh for safekeeping before undergoing the procedure.
But, according to him, when he came out of the theatre, Odeh had already changed the money and spent part of it.
Ezekiel alleged that his friend used some of the proceeds to buy two mobile phones, two power banks and two Wi-Fi devices.
“He bought two phones, two power banks, and two Wi-Fi. Then he now gave me one and held one. Everything he bought, he gave me one and held one,” he said.
The victim said he remained in the hospital for about a week before he was discharged and taken by Odeh to a hotel, where they spent two days.
He alleged that Odeh subsequently took him to Cross River State, where they stayed for about three months.
Ezekiel said he eventually demanded to know what happened to the money allegedly paid for the kidney, but was told that it had been spent.
“Before I asked him, ‘Where is the money?’ He told me that the money had finished,” he said.
He further alleged that Odeh later claimed they had no money for transportation back to Abuja and eventually sold his phone to raise transport fare.
Asked whether he knew that his kidney would be removed, Ezekiel said he was informed about the procedure but claimed that Odeh had reassured him that it would not cause any serious health problems.
“He just told me that it’s something that they will just convert it, that there’s not any issue in there, that if they convert it, I can do everything that I want to do, that I will not have any issue,” he said.
Ezekiel said the kidney removal took place on April 24 at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp.
He confirmed that he consented to the procedure but said he did not know the exact amount of money paid to him.
According to him, the payment was made in United States dollars, comprising several $100 notes and a $50 note.
The police have identified Odeh as one of the suspects allegedly involved in recruiting victims for the organ-harvesting network.
Also paraded were Dr Benjamin Oyime, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital; Dr Daniel Otukpa, another nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and David Idoko.
The police alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable young people and facilitated illegal kidney removal through forged documents and false representations.
The Force said the suspects were arrested following a sting operation in the Auta Balefi area of Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
It added that investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest other members of the alleged network.
The allegations came to public attention after social activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, disclosed that a young man had approached his non-governmental organisation with medical evidence indicating that his left kidney was missing.
Following the disclosure, the police commenced investigations which led to the arrest and parade of the suspects.
The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
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