Wellington Clinics in Abuja, the nation’s capital, has denied involvement in alleged organ harvesting following the arrest of some suspects by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over the scheme.
In a statement, Yemi Olatunbosun, director of administration at Wellington Clinics, said the facility is cooperating with the police in the investigation into the allegation.
THE CASE
On August 19, operatives of the special tactical squad arrested four suspects allegedly linked to an organ harvesting and human trafficking syndicate operating in Auta Balifi, Karu LGA of Nasarawa state.
The suspects were paraded on August 27.
Ani Iniedu, force spokesperson, said evidence gathered by investigators indicated that the suspects forged official documents containing victims’ details, including national identification numbers (NINs), birth certificates, age declarations, affidavits and consent letters, to facilitate the alleged crimes.
“The suspects arrested are Emmanuel Ode, male, 23 years, of Auta Balifi, Nasarawa State; Dr. Benjamin Oyime, male, 48 years, of Edo State, a Nephrologist (Kidney Consultant) and Consultant to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja; Dr. Daniel Otukpa, male, 53 years, of Benue State, also a Nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at Wellington Hospital; and David Idoko, male, 25 years,” Iniedu said.
“During interrogation, Emmanuel Ode confessed to recruiting victims under false pretenses. He disclosed that on 24th April 2026, he lured one Samuel Ezekiel, 22, to Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja, where his kidney was allegedly harvested for the sum of $1,250 USD (One Thousand Two Hundred and Fifty US Dollars), equivalent to ₦1,700,000.00 (One Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) at the current exchange rate.
“A second victim alleged that he was lured by the same agent in 2022 to a hospital where his kidney was harvested, for which he was paid the sum of ₦7,000,000.00 (Seven Million Naira).”
‘WE ONLY PROVIDED PRE-AGREED FACILITY RENTAL ARRANGEMENT’
In the statement, Olatunbosun said on April 24, 2026, one Samuel Ezekiel was admitted to the hospital as a “scheduled kidney donor”, with the relevant procedures observed, and underwent a left donor nephrectomy on the same day.
He claimed that Ezekiel deposed to an affidavit before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court to hide his identity and falsely changed his name to “Mr Hassan Abubakar”.
Olatunbosun said Ezekiel was also accompanied to the hospital by a man identified as Abubakar Isa, whom he described as his brother.
The director said Ezekiel presented several documents, including a court affidavit, an NIN slip, birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission (NPC), and affidavit of consent and age declaration.
Olatunbosun said the kidney donor was discharged on April 28, four days after the procedure.
He said the “kidney removed from the donor was transplanted immediately into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure”.
Olatunbosun said the hospital did not participate in “facilitating, negotiating or benefiting from any alleged financial transaction relating to the organ transplant on the grounds that it was strictly to save the life of a patient from a willing donor”.
He said the hospital’s role in the operation was “limited to providing an equipped environment and operating theatre for the procedure under a pre-agreed facility rental arrangement”.
Olatunbosun said the surgery was performed by a team led by Benjamin Oyimeh, a senior consultant nephrologist and chief executive officer (CEO) of Crown Medical and Kidney Centre.
‘SUSPENSION OF RENAL TRANSPLANT-RELATED SERVICES’
Olatunbosun said the hospital was unaware of any financial or other transactional relationship between the nephrology team, the donor or any other person connected to the case
He said the hospital has suspended all renal transplant-related services pending the outcome of investigations.
“Following the discovery of the allegations, Wellington Clinics said it had immediately suspended all renal transplant-related services pending the outcome of investigations,” the statement reads.
“The facility said it remained committed to ethical and evidence-based healthcare and would continue to cooperate with all relevant investigative and regulatory authorities.”
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