Abuja Hospital Denies Involvement in Alleged Organ-Harvesting Scheme

An Abuja-based hospital, Wellington Clinics, has denied any involvement in an alleged organ-harvesting scheme linked to a kidney transplant carried out at its facility.

The hospital said it neither participated in nor benefited from any financial transaction involving the donor and recipient, amid an ongoing police investigation into an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State.

Wellington Clinics also announced the suspension of all renal transplant-related services pending the outcome of investigations into the circumstances surrounding the kidney operation performed on April 24, 2026.

The development followed the arrest and parade of four suspects by the Nigeria Police Force, including two medical doctors reportedly linked to Wellington Hospital.

Police alleged that a 22-year-old man, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, was deceived into undergoing kidney removal at the facility and was paid $1,250, said to be about N1.7 million, for the organ.

However, Wellington Clinics said its records identified the donor as Abubakar Hassan and maintained that the procedure was conducted by a specialist medical team led by Dr Benjamin Oyimeh, a Senior Consultant Nephrologist and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Medical and Kidney Centre.

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

“Wellington Clinics did not participate, facilitate, negotiate, or benefit from any transactional arrangements,” the statement said.

The hospital explained that, under its arrangement with specialist medical teams, the lead consultant is responsible for patient recruitment, clinical assessment, donor-recipient compatibility checks, informed consent, ethical screening and other clinical and medico-legal requirements.

It added that the consultant and his team were responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Health Act 2014 and relevant guidelines issued by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

According to Wellington, the donor was admitted on April 24 as a scheduled kidney donor and underwent a left donor nephrectomy that same day. The kidney was subsequently transplanted into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure.

The hospital stressed that neither the donor nor the recipient died as a result of the procedure.

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

He was also accompanied by a man identified as Abubakar Isa, who was presented to the hospital as his brother.

The clinic said its 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.

He was discharged on April 28, four days after the operation, the hospital said.

Wellington added that the donor returned to the facility on July 11 for wound management and removal of residual stitches and was discharged two days later.

The hospital said the donor had explained that he had travelled and was therefore unable to attend some of his previously scheduled follow-up appointments.

The hospital’s account differs from the police allegation that the donor’s actual name was Samuel Ezekiel and that his identity was allegedly changed to facilitate the kidney removal.

The police investigation is reportedly examining allegations that vulnerable young people were recruited through deception and that documents were manipulated to facilitate the removal and transplantation of kidneys.

Wellington maintained that there was no reason at the time of admission to suspect that the documents presented by the donor were fraudulent or that his identity had been misrepresented.

“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,” the hospital said.

The clinic said it had no independent information at the time suggesting that a financial transaction or other improper arrangement existed between the donor and recipient.

The police investigation remains ongoing, and no final determination has been made regarding the culpability of the hospital, the doctors or any other individuals connected to the case. The allegations remain subject to investigation and due process.