Wellington Clinics: Organ Harvesting Probe in Nigeria Leads to Service Suspension

• Wellington Clinics in Abuja has suspended all renal transplant services amid a police investigation into alleged organ harvesting and human trafficking.
• Police allege a 22-year-old man, identified as Samuel Ezekiel, was deceived into a kidney removal at the facility and paid $1,250.
• Wellington Clinics denies involvement in transactional organ harvesting, stating its records show the donor as Abubakar Hassan and its role was limited to facility provision.
• The kidney transplant procedure was led by a specialist team under Dr. Benjamin Friday Oyimeh, who was responsible for patient evaluation and consent.
• The specialist team was also tasked with ensuring compliance with the National Health Act 2014 and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria transplant rules.

The ongoing Nigeria organ trafficking investigation serves as a stark reminder for medical facilities and practitioners to meticulously review their due diligence processes, contractual agreements with specialist teams, and overall compliance to mitigate severe legal and reputational risks.

Nigerian authorities are currently conducting a significant investigation into an alleged organ-harvesting and human-trafficking syndicate operating across Abuja and Nasarawa State. This probe has led to the arrest and public presentation of four suspects, including two medical doctors reportedly associated with Wellington Clinics in Abuja. Central to the police inquiry is the claim that a 22-year-old individual, identified by law enforcement as Samuel Ezekiel, was allegedly coerced and deceived into undergoing a kidney removal procedure at the Abuja facility. Police further allege that Mr. Ezekiel received approximately N1.7 million, equivalent to $1,250, for his kidney.

In response to these serious allegations, Wellington Clinics has vehemently denied any involvement in transactional organ harvesting, asserting that it neither participated in nor financially benefited from any arrangements between the donor and recipient. The clinic has proactively suspended all renal transplant-related services. This suspension will remain in effect pending the full conclusion of investigations into the circumstances surrounding the kidney operation performed on April 24, 2026, which is now at the heart of the police inquiry. This development underscores the heightened regulatory scrutiny on organ transplant procedures in Nigeria.

According to a statement released by Wellington Clinics, signed by its Director of Administration, Yemi Olatunbosun, their role in the April 24, 2026, procedure was strictly limited to providing an equipped operating theatre and a suitable environment under a pre-existing facility rental agreement. The clinic emphasized that it did not facilitate, negotiate, or benefit from any financial transactions. Their records indicate that the donor was admitted under the name Abubakar Hassan, with a birth date of February 4, 2000, and assigned hospital number WCA/8066/2026. This individual presented various documents upon admission, including a court affidavit, a digital National Identification Number slip, a birth certificate from the National Population Commission, an affidavit of consent, and a statutory declaration of age, and was accompanied by a man identified as Abubakar Isa, who claimed to be his brother.

The procedure itself, a left donor nephrectomy, was carried out by a specialist team led by Dr. Benjamin Friday Oyimeh, a Senior Consultant Nephrologist and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Medical and Kidney Centre. Wellington Clinics clarified that under their collaborative model with specialist medical teams, the lead consultant assumes full responsibility for critical aspects such as patient recruitment, clinical evaluation, donor-recipient compatibility assessments, obtaining informed consent, ethical screening, and all other clinical and medico-legal matters. The clinic confirmed that the kidney was successfully transplanted into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure, and crucially, neither the donor nor the recipient succumbed as a result of the operation.

A key point of contention in the ongoing Wellington Clinics organ harvesting probe Nigeria is the discrepancy between the identity of the donor as alleged by the police and the clinic's records. While police identify the alleged victim as Samuel Ezekiel, claiming his identity was changed for the procedure, Wellington Clinics maintains its records show the donor as Abubakar Hassan. Following the operation, the donor was discharged on April 28, four days after the procedure. He was later readmitted on July 11 for wound management and removal of residual stitches, being discharged again on July 13. The clinic noted that the donor had previously missed scheduled follow-up appointments, attributing this to travel.

The clinic's statement also highlighted that the specialist team, under Dr. Benjamin Friday Oyimeh, was specifically responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Health Act 2014 and all applicable guidelines set forth by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) regarding organ donation and transplant rules. This aspect of the investigation underscores the critical importance of stringent adherence to established legal and ethical frameworks in medical procedures, particularly those involving organ transplants. The ongoing Nigeria organ trafficking investigation serves as a stark reminder for medical facilities and practitioners to meticulously review their due diligence processes, contractual agreements with specialist teams, and overall compliance to mitigate severe legal and reputational risks.

This case signals heightened regulatory scrutiny on organ transplant procedures in Nigeria. Legal and compliance teams for medical facilities and practitioners must urgently review their due diligence processes, contractual agreements with specialist teams, and adherence to the National Health Act 2014 and MDCN guidelines to mitigate severe legal and reputational risks, particularly concerning donor consent and identity verification.

Source: Reporting from local sources