A friend tricked me into removing a kidney and spent the payment on phones – Victim

Daud Olatunji

A young Nigerian man, Samuel Ezekiel, has told how he was allegedly tricked by his friend, Emmanuel Odeh, into having his kidney removed after he was falsely assured that the procedure would not compromise his health.

Ezekiel said Odeh changed his identity to “Hassan Abubakar” and facilitated his movement through a process involving medical tests, court documentation and surgery at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja.

This was revealed on Friday when the Nigeria Police Force paraded suspects linked to an alleged organ harvesting syndicate operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State.

According to him, Odeh initially told him that they would go to hospital without revealing all the details of what awaited him.

“It is my friend who deceived me. His name is Emmanuel Udeh,” said Ezekiel.

He said Odeh subsequently introduced him to another man identified as David, who took him to an officer, Ben, for medical tests.

Ezekiel explained that his initial test results did not match those of the intended kidney recipient, but the agent later informed him that another recipient had been found.

It was at that point, he said, that the union told him his identity would be changed.

“Then now he said they will change my name, that I will bring Hassan Abubakar,” he said.

Ezekiel said the group later took him to the Federal High Court, where an affidavit was prepared before he was taken to Wellington Hospital.

He said the documents were signed at the hospital before he was taken for the operation.

According to the victim, the dollar money was delivered to them late at night, shortly before entering the theater.

“After we sign, then later in the night, around 10:00-11:00, they come and give us money in dollars,” he said.

He said he gave the money to Odeh for safekeeping before undergoing the procedure.

But according to him, when he left the theatre, Odeh had already changed the money and spent some of it.

Ezekiel said his friend used some of the proceeds to purchase two cell phones, two power banks and two Wi-Fi devices.

“He bought two phones, two power banks and two Wi-Fis. Then now he gave me one and kept one. Everything he bought, he gave me one and kept one,” he said.

The victim said she remained in hospital for about a week before being discharged and taken by Odeh to a hotel, where they spent two days.

He claimed that Odeh subsequently took him to Cross River State, where they stayed for about three months.

Ezekiel said he eventually demanded to know what happened to the money allegedly paid for the kidney, but was told it had been spent.

“Before you ask him, ‘Where’s the money?’ He told me the money was gone,” he said.

He further alleged that Odeh later claimed he had no money for transport back to Abuja and eventually sold his phone to increase transport fares.

Asked if he knew his kidney would be removed, Ezekiel said he had been informed of the procedure but said Odeh had reassured him it would not cause serious health problems.

“He just told me that it’s something that they’ll just convert it, that there’s no problem, that if they convert it, I can do whatever I want, that I won’t have any problems,” he said.

Ezekiel said the kidney removal took place on April 24 at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp.

He confirmed he had agreed to the procedure but said he did not know the exact amount of money he was paid.

According to him, the payment was made in US dollars, comprising several 100-dollar bills and a 50-dollar bill.

Police identified Odeh as one of the suspects allegedly involved in recruiting victims for the organ harvesting ring.

Also marching were Dr Benjamin Oyime, nephrologist and consultant at Wellington Hospital; Dr. Daniel Otukpa, another nephrologist and acting director of clinical services at the hospital; and David Idoko.

Police said the syndicate targeted vulnerable youth and facilitated illegal kidney harvesting through forged documents and false statements.

The Force said the suspects were arrested following a sting operation in Auta Balefi area of ​​Karu Local Government Area of ​​Nasarawa State.

He added that investigations were underway to identify and arrest other members of the alleged network.

The allegations came to public attention after social activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, revealed that a young man had approached his non-governmental organization with medical evidence indicating that he was missing his left kidney.

Following the discovery, the police began investigations which led to the arrest and arrest of the suspects.

The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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