Abuja hospital denies organ trafficking, suspends kidney transplant services 

The hospital also disclosed that it had suspended all renal transplant-related services pending the conclusion of investigations into the circumstances surrounding the April 24, 2026 kidney operation.

The clarification came amid an ongoing investigation by the Nigeria Police Force into an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate in Abuja and Nasarawa State.

Police recently arrested and paraded four suspects, including two medical doctors linked to Wellington Hospital, over allegations that a 22-year-old man, identified by the police as Samuel Ezekiel, was deceived into undergoing kidney removal at the Abuja facility.

The police alleged that the victim was paid $1,250, approximately N1.7million, for the kidney.

Wellington Clinics, however, said its records showed that the donor was admitted under the name Abubakar Hassan and that the procedure was conducted by a specialist team led by a Senior Consultant Nephrologist and Chief Executive Officer, Crown Medical and Kidney Centre, Dr Benjamin Oyimeh.

In a statement signed by its Director of Administration, Yemi Olatunbosun, and made available to journalists on Tuesday, the hospital said its involvement was limited to providing an equipped operating theatre and an appropriate environment for the procedure under a pre-agreed facility rental arrangement.

The clinic stated, “Wellington Clinics did not participate, facilitate, negotiate, or benefit from any transactional arrangements.”

It added that the procedure was carried out under the supervision of a licensed senior consultant nephrologist, and that the specialist team retained responsibility for the donor and recipient throughout the process.

According to the hospital, its collaboration model with specialist medical teams means that the lead consultant is responsible for patient recruitment, clinical evaluation, donor-recipient compatibility assessment, informed consent, ethical screening and other clinical and medico-legal matters.

The clinic said the consultant and his team were also responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Health Act 2014 and applicable guidelines of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

Wellington said the donor was admitted on April 24, 2026, as a scheduled kidney donor and underwent a left donor nephrectomy the same day.

The kidney, it said, was subsequently transplanted into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure.

The facility stressed that neither the donor nor recipient died as a result of the operation.

The hospital said the donor presented several documents during admission, including a court affidavit, digital National Identification Number slip, birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission, affidavit of consent and statutory declaration of age.

It added that the donor was accompanied by a man identified as Abubakar Isa, who was presented as his brother.

According to the statement, the hospital’s records showed that the donor was admitted as Abubakar Hassan, with a date of birth of February 4, 2000, and hospital number WCA/8066/2026.

Wellington said he was discharged on April 28, four days after the operation.

The hospital further disclosed that he was readmitted on July 11 for wound management and removal of residual stitches and discharged on July 13.

It explained that the donor had informed the hospital that he had travelled and was therefore unable to attend some of his earlier scheduled follow-up appointments.

The hospital’s account comes against the backdrop of the police allegation that the donor’s real name was Samuel Ezekiel and that his identity was allegedly changed for the purpose of the procedure.

The police investigation, according to reports, centres on allegations that vulnerable young people were recruited through deception and that documents were allegedly manipulated to facilitate kidney removal.

The police have not yet made a final determination on the culpability of the hospital, doctors or other persons connected to the case, and the allegations remain subject to investigation and due process.

Wellington, meanwhile, maintained that there was no indication at the time of admission that the documents presented by the donor were false or that his identity had been misrepresented.

The clinic stated, “Since the records department of Wellington relied on the above documents submitted on admission, as per the current level of practice, we were not aware or suspicious of any misrepresentation or manipulation of identity at the time.”