NEWS
I was Offered N1m for my kidney to be Removed- 16-year-old Boy Tells Court
A 16-year-old boy, on Monday, told an FCT High Court in Zuba that he was offered N1 million by Mr Emmanuel Olorunlaye,for his kidney to be removed at Alliance Hospital, Abuja.
The teenager made this known while being led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Hassan Tahir.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) charged the defendants alongside the Hospital with 11 counts bordering on organ harvesting.
The defendants are the Medical Director, Alliance Hospital, Dr Christopher Otabor, Emmanuel Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, Administrative Secretary of the hospital and Dr Aremu Abayomi.
The boy said that he met Olorunlaye, who told him he was the manager of Alliance hospital, through a friend in February 2023.
“My friend told me that we were going for a job at the Alliance Hospital and we went to see Olorunlaye who took us for our blood samples to be taken.
“He gave us transport money and asked me if i knew what I was about to do in the hospital.
I answered no and he told me to ask my friend.
“I asked my friend, who did not tell me what we were doing in the hospital, later informed me that Olorunlaye asked us to return to the hospital,” he said.
The witness said Olorunlaye asked about his health and informed him that he was about to sale his kidney for N1 million.
” I declined the offer and Olorunlaye asked us to go return to the hospital for the work we were initially supposed to do which was to distribute medication.
” When we got back to the hospital, Olorunlaye asked why we were scared to accept his offer and asked us to wait for his boss, Ugochukwu and when she arrived, he handed me over to her.
He alleged that Ugochukwu took him to an FCT high court where he signed a document and was asked to wait outside for her.
” Six minutes later she came out and we went back to the hospital and she handed me over to a driver and a nurse.I was taken to Eco Lab for a scan and driven back to Alliance Hospital afterwards .
” Olorunlaye told me that I was going to sleep in the hospital because it was late to go back home, so while I was there, a nurse came and put a drip on me, then Ugochukwu came with some documents and asked me to sign and I did.
” I was weak and wheeled into the theatre and I laid on the bed, then i over heard the nurse asking for Dr Aremu to be called, I slept off and when I woke up the nurse informed me I woke up on the third day after the operation.
“I tried to stand up but I felt as if I was carrying a heavy load inside of me, I tried to disconnect the drip that was attached to me but the nurse asked me to calm down and rest,” he said..
After some minutes, the boy said the nurse disconnected the drip line and wheeled him back to the room.
He said he was asleep and hours later Olorunlaye walked in asked him how he felt and said: “thank God the operation was successful”.
He said that was when he realized that his kidney had been removed.
The 16-year-old boy said Olorunlaye said he did not have cash to give him due to the cashless policy and would give him N1 million for his kidney .
He said Olorunlaye showed him some dollar notes in an envelope and asked if he would take dollars or transfer but the boy said he did not know where to change the dollars.
” My friend suggested that he needed N100,000 to buy a phone so that we could create an Opay account for the money to be transferred, Olorunlaye transferred the money to him for the phone which he bought.
” I could not operate the phone because I was still weak from the operation. So my friend opened the account but because I did not have a BVN I could not receive the sum of money.
“My friend later said that the phone got stolen by street boys and Olorunlaye then informed me that I was going to be discharged from the hospital and gave me medication.
” Olorunlaye booked a cab for me and asked where I would go to and I said home and he asked if I was stupid to go home with the stitches and suggested I rent a hotel.
“We stopped in Marraraba and he asked me to go to any phone dealer and send the dealer’s account number for him to buy a phone for me.
“Olorunlaye sent the phone dealer N500,000 and the dealer complained and asked for an account number to send back the balance of 210,000 and I sent another friend’s account number who was in school .
” I went back to Alliance hospital days after for my stitches removal and was told that the operation site was infected bcos of my hygiene then Olorunlaye advised me to change where I was staying.
” I moved to Ayoma hotel in Ado, Nasarawa state but was robbed of N150, 000, ” he said.
He said he called Olorunlaye telling him that he promised to give him N1 million adding that the little he gave him so far was almost finished.
The witness said he finally had his stitches removed and he travelled to Ibadan to stay with his father’s friend whom noticed the operation site and informed his father.
He said his father called him over the phone to explain what happened to him which he did and his father asked him to go to his aunt’s place in Lagos to be taken care of.
“My father’s lawyer wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Police and they told my father to take me back to Abuja where I wrote my statement in Command and I was taken to Alliance Hospital.
“Dr Aremu took us to the M.D’s office and they were detained and the commissioner of police asked the M.D about the patient that he gave my kidney to and he said the patient was late.He was asked to bring the patient ‘s report and death certificate.
“On our way out, the M.D stopped my father and told him to withdraw the case and settle it saying that he would help me with my education and collected my father’s number to call him,” he said.
While cross-examinating the witness, Tahir asked the boy to show the court his scar and asked how he had been feeling.
“I do not feel as strong as before and i am still on medication,” he said.
The defence counsel, Afam Osigwe, SAN asked the boy if he signed an affidavit and can confirm that he stated that he was 18 years old in the affidavit.
Osigwe also asked if he could confirm that the patient, Egbuson Samson whom his kidney was donated to was his relative and he was not being compelled to donate his kidney.
The boy answered that he only signed on a light pen at the high court and signed documents before the surgery while he was weak.
The judge Kezziah Ogbonnaya however adjourned the matter until May 7 for continuation of hearing.(NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Ishaya Tanko has confirmed the sad death of 8 students of the University to a road crash involving their Toyota bus with a truck in the metropolitan city of Jos.
He disclosed that one of the students was being prepared for surgery in the early hours of Thursday at the Jos University Teaching Hospital while others were receiving medication at the Bingham Teaching Hospital.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Plateau State Command disclosed that the accident occurred opposite Unity Bank Zaria Road, Jos, at around 2:30 am.
The Plateau State Sector Commander of the Corps, Olajide Mogaji explained that seven people lost their lives on the spot, while another victim died in hospital, bringing the total number of fatalities to eight.
According to the Command’s statement, the crash involved a trailer and a bus, which was carrying eleven passengers, all male students of the University of Jos, opposite Unity Bank Zaria Road, Jos, at around 2:30 am.
Mogaji said eyewitness accounts revealed to the corps emergency teams that the bus was speeding and engaged in wrongful overtaking, leading to the loss of control and the crash.
The Sector Commander has appealed to drivers to avoid night trips, excessive speed, and dangerous driving, saying, “The government needs you alive, and wants you to live life to the fullest in this festive season and beyond.”
The FRSC noted that the incident is still under investigation, while urging the public to report crashes or road emergencies to their toll-free emergency number 122 at all times for prompt responses.
The victims were said to have been coming back from a welcome special party for new students when the unfortunate incident occurred with the vehicle carrying the male students while the other vehicle carrying the female students escaped the tragedy.
UNICEF Hails Bayelsa as Champion of Primary Healthcare Devt in Nigeria
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has commended the Bayelsa State Government for its deliberate efforts at improving primary healthcare delivery, especially in the area of immunization in recent years.
The Country Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, gave the commendation, on Wednesday, when she led a delegation on a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa.
Saeed said what she saw during her visit to some health facilities and her random interactions with some mothers in the state, corroborated the positive reports UNICEF has been receiving about Bayelsa in terms of immunization.
The special UN envoy, who described Bayelsa as champion of healthcare delivery and a shining spot in the country, noted that the state has achieved an impressive performance in its immunization indices from 2021 to date.
She attributed the improvement in the health indicators of the state to purposeful leadership, commitment and accountability being provided by the present administration.
While assuring the Bayelsa of UNICEF’s readiness for collaboration to improve nutrition for children as well as unlock resources for healthcare development in the state, the Country Rep, however, urged the Governor Douye Diri-led administration to sustain its efforts in the health sector.
She said, “We are really impressed with what Bayelsa is doing… Bayelsa State has also committed its financing of immunization campaigns from the state budget, and a special one (immunization) in-between.
“Also there is a monthly allowance and support you have continued to give from GAVI. These are some of the things that have really increased the number of immunized children and improved the performance of the state.
“In 2021, the number of children not immunized in Bayelsa was 71 percent; that means seven out of ten kids were not immunized. But between then and now, there is a big difference due to the leadership, commitment and accountability we are seeing in Bayelsa State.
“You have been a champion of primary healthcare and a champion of immunization. And I really look to have Bayelsa not only a champion of states in Nigeria but in our continent and the globe.”
In a response, Governor Douye Diri represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, reaffirmed the determination of his administration to prioritize investments in the health sector.
He said plans were underway to review the state primary healthcare board law with a view to not only sustaining the extant primary healthcare funding model but also expanding it through effective private sector contributions, especially from corporate organizations operating in the state.
Diri thanked the Country Rep, Ms Wafaa Saeed, for her kind words of encouragement and also acknowledged the support of UNICEF, WHO, Bill Gate, Dangote Foundation and other development partners, noting that Bayelsa could not have recorded its present achievements in the health sector without their collaboration.
His words: “We also want to thank you profusely for supporting our programme. We thank UNICEF, the WHO, Bill Gate Foundation, Dangote Foundation and others for your support. We really appreciate what you have done for our state.
“As a government, we know where we are going. A man who knows where he is going cannot be misled. We are focused and will continue to redouble our efforts in the health sector.
“You talked about sustainability. That is very important to us, and so, we are looking at the principal law, which is the Primary Healthcare Development Board Law. We are looking at some areas of that law to bind the hands of whoever that comes after us.
“That is to ensure that even if the administration after us will not have the motivation and passion to provide leadership for primary healthcare like the present governor is doing, the law will compel them to do so.”
The UNICEF Country Representative was accompanied on the visit by the Chief of Field Service, Judith Leville, UNICEF Health Consultant, Dr. Makio Perekeme, the Chief Field Officer, Anselm Audu and a health specialist, Eghe Abe, among others.
Mutfwang Pledges Support for Minister of Defence in Fight against Insecurity
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has paid a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), assuring him of his total and unwavering support in the collective effort to defeat insecurity in Plateau State and across Nigeria.
The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Governor, Gyang Bere on Thursday disclosed that the Governor has expressed delight over Gen.
Musa’s appointment, describing it as a “strategic and timely decision” in confronting the country’s intricate and evolving security challenges.Mutfwang noted that the Minister’s vast experience and proven professionalism would significantly strengthen ongoing national security interventions.
“We must now focus on finding solutions to the challenges confronting us. Whatever has happened in the past should not deter us. The time has come for all of us to join hands and holistically address our security concerns,” Mutfwang emphasized.
The Governor reiterated his support for the establishment of State Police, acknowledging concerns about possible abuses, but stressing that the nation must collectively develop safeguards and ensure operational efficiency.
Gen. Christopher Musa expressed gratitude for the Governor’s visit, assuring him of a robust and productive collaboration in addressing security concerns in Plateau State and the country at large.
He commended Governor Mutfwang for hosting the Plateau Unity Christmas Carols and Praise Festival, describing it as a unifying initiative.
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