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Friend tricked me into kidney removal, spent payment on gadgets — Victim
A young Nigerian, Samuel Ezekiel, has narrated how his friend allegedly deceived him into undergoing kidney removal and later spent part of the money he received on electronic gadgets.
Ezekiel made the disclosure while speaking to journalists during the parade of suspects linked to an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate operating in Abuja and Nasarawa State.
According to him, his friend, Emmanuel Odeh, initially told him they were going to a hospital, and he followed because he trusted him.
“It’s my friend that deceived me. His name is Emmanuel Udeh,” Ezekiel said.
He explained that Odeh later connected him with another man, David, who took him to an agent identified as Ben for medical tests.
Ezekiel said his first test did not match the intended kidney recipient, but the agent later informed him that another recipient had been found and that his kidney was a match.
He alleged that he was subsequently told to assume the name “Hassan Abubakar” and was taken to the Federal High Court, where an affidavit was prepared before they proceeded to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja.
“Then he now said that they are going to change my name, that I will be bearing Hassan Abubakar,” he said.
Ezekiel said documents were signed at the hospital before he was taken into the theatre. He added that he was given money in dollars around 10pm or 11pm before the procedure.
He said he handed the money to Odeh for safekeeping before entering the theatre.
“After they give us the money, then when I wanted to enter the theatre, I gave Emmanuel the money to hold it,” he said.
However, Ezekiel alleged that when he came out of the theatre, Odeh had exchanged the money and used part of it to purchase two phones, two power banks and two Wi-Fi devices.
“He bought two phones, two power banks, and two Wi-Fi. Then he now gave me one and held one,” he said.
The victim said he remained at the hospital for about a week before being discharged and taken by Odeh to a hotel, where they spent two days.
He said they later travelled to Cross River State and stayed there for about three months.
According to Ezekiel, when he eventually asked Odeh about the money he had received, his friend told him it had been spent.
He added that Odeh later claimed they had no money for transportation back to Abuja and sold his phone to raise the fare.
Ezekiel said he knew a kidney-related procedure was involved but claimed that Odeh reassured him that it would not negatively affect his health.
“He just told me that it’s something that they will just convert it, that there’s not any issue in there,” he said.
He confirmed that he consented to the procedure, which he said took place at Wellington Hospital on April 24. He recalled receiving several $100 notes and a $50 note but said he could not state the exact amount.
The allegations emerged as the Nigeria Police Force intensified its investigation into an alleged organ-harvesting network operating in Abuja and Nasarawa.
The police on Friday paraded several suspects, including two doctors and alleged recruiters, following a sting operation in the Auta Balefi area of Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
Those paraded included Dr Benjamin Oyime, a nephrologist and consultant to Wellington Hospital; Dr Daniel Otukpa, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; David Idoko; and Odeh.
The police alleged that the syndicate targeted vulnerable young people and facilitated illegal kidney removals using forged documents and false representations.
The Force said investigations were ongoing to apprehend other members of the alleged network.
The case became public after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, said a young man approached his NGO with medical evidence indicating that his left kidney was missing.
The police subsequently commenced investigations, leading to the arrest and parade of the suspects.
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has raised concerns about his personal safety ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying he is not certain he will be alive when Nigerians go to the polls.
Obi made the remarks during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday, where he discussed the political environment ahead of the election and called for a peaceful and democratic process.
The former Anambra State governor said he had been subjected to petitions and investigations in different places, adding that he remained uncertain about what could happen to him before the election.
“As I speak to you, I have also petitioned, I’ve been investigated everywhere. I still hear that I’m not even sure whether I’ll still be alive at the end of this,” Obi said.
He said he was relying on God for protection, while expressing uncertainty over the circumstances surrounding him.
“I’m praying to God for His protection because at this stage, I’m not sure what is happening,” he added.
Obi also appealed to political actors, particularly state governors, to create an environment where presidential candidates and other contestants can campaign freely ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, governors have the right to support candidates of their choice, but should not prevent candidates from opposing parties from carrying out their campaigns.
“Some of them will be campaigning for presidency tomorrow. They will be campaigning for other offices tomorrow. Let’s have peace,” he said.
The NDC candidate recalled his tenure as governor of Anambra State, saying he allowed politicians from other parties to campaign in the state, including those supporting candidates who were opposed to him.
Obi’s comments come amid increasing political activity and debate over the conduct and security of the 2027 elections. He has repeatedly called for a peaceful, credible and issue-based electoral process, while urging political actors to avoid actions that could undermine democratic participation.
Francis-Xavier Sosu, Ghanaian member of parliament, collapsed on stage while delivering a speech.
Sosu was addressing students at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra on Thursday when he began to show signs of dizziness, according to video posted by Joy Online, a local media outlet.
Pausing his address, the lawmaker attempted to hold on to the podium but was unable to continue his speech or stand upright.
A man and a woman approached the podium from the side of the hall to assist the lawmaker, who later collapsed into their arms as they rushed him out of the building.
A statement issued by Ivan Dzakpasu, Sosu’s chief of staff, said the MP has received the necessary medical attention following the incident.
The statement did not provide details on the nature of the incident, the medical attention received or what may have caused the MP to become unwell.
The statement urged the public to remain calm and avoid relying on unverified reports or speculation about the lawmaker’s condition.
The federal high court in Gombe has nullified the emergence of Isa Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
The court, in a judgment delivered on Thursday by Amina Aliyu Mohammed, also ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in compliance with its constitution, guidelines and relevant electoral laws.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Usman Garry, a PDP governorship aspirant, who challenged the process through which Pantami emerged as the party’s candidate.
In May, Pantami withdrew from the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election scheduled for May 21 in Gombe state.
Pantami attributed his withdrawal from the race to the alleged breaches of the electoral process.
He eventually joined the PDP and emerged as the party’s 2027 governorship candidate in Gombe state.
The former minister secured the ticket through voice affirmation during the party’s gubernatorial primary.
Garry objected to the affirmation of Pantami as the flagbearer of the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction and eventually filed a suit against the former minister.
Garry had asked the court to set aside Pantami’s emergence on the grounds that the PDP did not conduct a valid governorship primary in accordance with its rules and applicable electoral laws.
After hearing arguments from the parties, the court had reserved judgment in July.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel to Pantami argued that he had validly resigned from the APC on May 19, 2026, before participating in the PDP primary.
The PDP also opposed the suit and urged the court to strike out the case.
Garry’s counsel, however, urged the court to dismiss the objections and grant the reliefs sought by his client.
The court, however, directed the PDP to conduct a fresh governorship primary in accordance with its guidelines and applicable electoral provisions.
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