A young Nigerian, Samuel Ezekiel, has alleged that a friend deceived him into undergoing a kidney removal procedure in Abuja. He said his friend then spent part of the money paid for the organ on phones and other electronic devices. In fact, Ezekiel has now been identified as a kidney harvesting victim in this case.
According to Punch, Ezekiel made the claims while speaking to journalists on Friday. This occurred during the Nigeria Police Force parade of suspects linked to an alleged organ-harvesting network operating around Abuja and Nasarawa State. This highlights the plight of a kidney harvesting victim within an illegal network.
Victim says friend deceived him
“It’s my friend that deceived me,” Ezekiel said, identifying the friend as Emmanuel Odeh.
He explained that he initially followed Odeh to a hospital because he trusted him and usually acted on his instructions.
Ezekiel said he was later introduced to another man named David. David connected him with an agent identified as Ben for medical tests.
His first test reportedly failed to match him with an intended kidney recipient. However, he was subsequently informed that another recipient had been found.
According to Ezekiel, he was then told that his identity would be changed. He said he would bear the name “Hassan Abubakar.”
He said an affidavit was prepared at the Federal High Court before he was taken to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja.
Kidney payment allegedly spent on gadgets
Ezekiel said documents were signed at the hospital before money was brought to them in dollars on the night of the procedure.
He claimed he handed the money to Odeh for safekeeping before entering the theatre.
By the time he emerged, according to his account, Odeh had already exchanged the money. Odeh had also bought two phones, two power banks and two Wi-Fi devices.
Ezekiel said they shared the devices, with each of them taking one of each item.
He added that they spent about a week at the hospital before being discharged. After this, Odeh took him to a hotel for two days and later to Cross River State. The experience left him as a kidney harvesting victim now facing serious consequences for his health.
The pair reportedly remained in Cross River for about three months.
When Ezekiel eventually asked about the remaining money, he alleged that Odeh told him it had been exhausted. This is often the grim financial reality for a kidney harvesting victim.
He further claimed that his phone was later sold to raise transport fare for their return to Abuja.
Ezekiel admits knowing kidney would be removed
Although Ezekiel maintained that he was deceived by his friend, he acknowledged that he eventually knew his kidney would be removed before the procedure.
He claimed Odeh reassured him that losing the kidney would not prevent him from living normally or carrying out his usual activities.
Ezekiel said the procedure took place on April 24 at Wellington Hospital.
While he could not recall the precise amount paid to him, the Nigeria Police Force separately alleged that his kidney was harvested for $1,250.
Police probe alleged organ-harvesting network
The police have paraded Odeh alongside two doctors, Dr Benjamin Oyime and Dr Daniel Otukpa. They also paraded David Idoko in connection with the investigation.
Police alleged that the group targeted vulnerable young people and used forged or altered documents to facilitate illegal kidney removals.
Investigators further alleged that documents including names, National Identification Numbers, birth certificates, affidavits and consent letters were manipulated during the operation.
The case gained wider attention after social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, said a young man approached his organisation with medical evidence indicating that his left kidney was missing.
Police said investigations remain ongoing as officers work to identify and apprehend other people allegedly connected to the network.
The allegations against those paraded remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
