Medical Director, three others arraigned for alleged organ harvesting

The Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Christopher Otabor, alongside three others, found themselves in the dock at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Zuba, on Monday, facing charges related to alleged organ harvesting.

In a case brought forth by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Otabor, along with Emmanuel Olorunlaye, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, and Dr. Aremu Abayomi, faced 11 counts related to organ harvesting.

The prosecuting counsel, Hassan Tahir, detailed the allegations, claiming that Olorunlaye had procured two 17-year-old boys and a 25-year-old man named Aminu Yahuza for the purpose of removing their kidneys at Alliance Hospital, situated in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, in February 2023.

Tahir further alleged that Ugochukwu, serving as an Administrative Secretary at the hospital, aided in the kidney removal procedures of the victims within the hospital premises.

The prosecution’s case extended to Otabor, accusing him of accommodating the victims at Alliance Hospital to undergo kidney removal procedures. Additionally, Dr. Abayomi, identified as a surgeon at the hospital, was alleged to have performed the kidney removal operations.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 20(2)(a)(3) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

The defendants however pleaded not guilty.

Mr Richard Adeboju, the counsel to Olorunlaye, moved a motion for bail pursuant to Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Adeboju’s motion was supported with an 11-paragraph affidavit with a written address. He urged the court to adopt the same as his oral submission and grant the application.

Afam Osigwe, SAN, the defence counsel to the other defendants, also urged the court to grant his clients bail.

“Otabor is on bail earlier granted by Justice Hamza Muazu and I urge the court to grant the same. The defendants are responsible persons who run businesses and families and have been diligently honouring NAPTIP’s invitations,” Osigwe said.

He urged the court to adopt the same administrative bail conditions that were granted to the defendants by NAPTIP.

The prosecution counsel however did not oppose the bail application but applied for accelerated hearing on the matter.

He cited Section 165 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), noting that the court may impose its own conditions and does not have to go with the same bail conditions given by NAPTIP.

Delivering a ruling, Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya held that judicially, administrative bail fizzles out upon arraignment and cannot determine the court’s bail.

Justice Ogbonnaya however ordered the defendants to sign a register on a daily basis at the NAPTIP headquarters, starting from March 19, except the day for hearing in court.

She also ordered the defendants to deposit their travel documents to the court’s registrar and warned the defendants to adhere to the order or risk their bail being revoked.

The judge adjourned the matter for accelerated hearing from May 6 to May 9, after which hearing continues May 13.