By Enitan Abdultawab
A young Nigerian, Samuel Ezekiel, has narrated how his friend allegedly deceived him into undergoing kidney removal and later spent part of the money he received on electronic gadgets.
Ezekiel made the disclosure while speaking to journalists during the parade of suspects linked to an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State.
According to him, his friend, Emmanuel Odeh, initially told him they were going to a hospital, and he followed because he trusted him.
“It’s my friend that deceived me. His name is Emmanuel Udeh,” Ezekiel said.
He explained that Odeh later connected him with another man, David, who took him to an agent identified as Ben for medical tests.
Ezekiel said his first test did not match the intended kidney recipient, but the agent later informed him that another recipient had been found and that his kidney was a match.
He alleged that he was subsequently told to assume the name “Hassan Abubakar” and was taken to the Federal High Court, where an affidavit was prepared before they proceeded to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja.
“Then he now said that they are going to change my name, that I will be bearing Hassan Abubakar,” he said.
Ezekiel said documents were signed at the hospital before he was taken into the theatre. He added that he was given money in dollars around 10pm or 11pm before the procedure.
He said he handed the money to Odeh for safekeeping before entering the theatre.
“After they give us the money, then when I wanted to enter the theatre, I gave Emmanuel the money to hold it,” he said.
However, Ezekiel alleged that when he came out of the theatre, Odeh had exchanged the money and used part of it to purchase two 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,” he said.
The victim said he remained at the hospital for about a week before being discharged and taken by Odeh to a hotel, where they spent two days.
He said they later travelled to Cross River State and stayed there for about three months.
According to Ezekiel, when he eventually asked Odeh about the money he had received, his friend told him it had been spent.
He added that Odeh later claimed they had no money for transportation back to Abuja and sold his phone to raise the fare.
Ezekiel said he knew a kidney-related procedure was involved but claimed that Odeh reassured him that it would not negatively affect his health.
“He just told me that it’s something that they will just convert it, that there’s not any issue in there,” he said.
He confirmed that he consented to the procedure, which he said took place at Wellington Hospital on April 24. He recalled receiving several $100 notes and a $50 note but said he could not state the exact amount.
The allegations emerged as the Nigeria Police Force intensified its investigation into an alleged organ-harvesting network operating in Abuja and Nasarawa.
The police on Friday paraded several suspects, including two doctors and alleged recruiters, following a sting operation in the Auta Balefi area of Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
Those paraded included Dr Benjamin Oyime, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital; Dr Daniel Otukpa, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; David Idoko; and Odeh.
The police alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable young people and facilitated illegal kidney removals using forged documents and false representations.
The Force said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged network.
The case became public after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, said a young man approached his NGO with medical evidence indicating that his left kidney was missing.
The police subsequently commenced investigations, leading to the arrest and parade of the suspects.
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