Fathers Of Teenagers Whose Kidneys Were Removed By Abuja-based Hospital Deny Giving Consent

This comes amid the ongoing trial of four staff members of Abuja-based Alliance Hospital and Services Ltd accused of removing the teenagers’ kidneys.

Salaudeen Sulaimon Adedoyin and Musa Yahaya, the fathers of two of the teenagers whose kidneys were removed by Alliance Hospital and Services Ltd in Abuja have said they did not give consent to the operation.

This comes amid the ongoing trial of four staff members of Abuja-based Alliance Hospital and Services Ltd accused of removing the teenagers’ kidneys.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP) arraigned the staff members on 11 counts bordering on alleged involvement in organ harvesting.

The accused persons are Dr Christopher Otabor, Emmanuel Muyiwa Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu and Dr Aremu Abayomi.

They were all charged for contravening Section 20 (3), of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition), Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The suspects were accused of playing a part in the harvesting of the kidneys of three young males including two minors between February and May 2023.

The father of one of the victims testified on Wednesday before an FCT High Court in Zuba in the ongoing trial.

According to Daily Trust, Salaudeen Adedoyin, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Hassan Dahiru Esq., said when he met the defendants for the first in the office of the Commissioner of Police at the FCT Command Headquarters, the CP asked whether he was aware of the operation that was performed on his son and he said ‘no’.

Salaudeen explained that the CP asked if the hospital sought the permission of any of the child’s family members and if they could produce the member but they could not answer him.

He added that Dr Otabor met him outside the CP’s office and requested he withdraw the case while offering to sponsor the child’s education and cater for him as well but he replied that any settlement would have to be tabled before his family members.

“He (Dr Otabor) told me that someone can live with one kidney for the rest of their lives. I said I gave birth to him with two kidneys and I wanted it to be preserved that way. I said I want justice for the boy,” he said.

Meanwhile, under cross-examination by Osigwe, Salaudeen said his son told him he didn’t read the contents of the affidavits and consent form he signed which claimed he was 18 and accepted to donate his kidney to one Samson Egbuson, identified as his uncle.

He added that his son was born in September 2006.

The case was adjourned to May 9.