A 16-year-old boy, on Tuesday, told an FCT High Court in Zuba that he was given N880,000 cash by Mr Emmanuel Olorunlaye, in Alliance Hospital, Abuja, after his kidney was removed.
Trust News Africa gathered that 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 16-year-old boy said that he met Olorunlaye through a friend.
He said that Olorunlaye calls his friend when the hospital needs a kidney and that the hospital usually prefers persons with O+ blood group .
” My friend introduced me to Olorunlaye and told him I wanted to sell my kidney. Then Olorunlaye asked my friend to take me to any hospital around our area to see if I was healthy to donate my kidney.
“After going to a hospital for my check up, I was given my result and my friend took a picture of it and sent it to Olorunlaye via WatsApp because I did not have a phone.
” After two days Olorunlaye called my friend and sent some transport money to us to meet at the tAlliance Hospital to run some tests.
“I was taken to the laboratory for my blood samples and urine when I was done, Olorunlaye gave me N2,000 for a cab back home.
“He called me back to repeat the same test in the hospital and again sent me N2,000 for a cab.
“I went on to see him on a Tuesday and Olorunlaye informed me that the surgery will be performed on a Friday.
“He told me not to inform any of my family members and instructed me not to eat from 8p.m to 10a.m and I did as he said.
He alleged that Ugochukwu gave him some documents at 8pm and instructed him to sign them but he did not read it.
He said Dr Abayomi (the fourth defendant) came into the room he was kept in and told him that he will perform a medical surgery on him.
”He told me not to worry he will save my life.
“A nurse came later to get me and asked me to change into hospital wear and wheeled me into the theatre and gave me an injection that made me sleep.
” Two days later, I heard the nurse screaming my name so I answered and as I tried to get up I felt the sharp pain on my side.
” Olorunlaye came into my room and informed me that my kidney had been removed and asked if I needed cash or mobile transfer of money,” he said.
He told the court that Olorunlaye told him that his friend, who “found” him, asked for his share of the N1 million and that he gave N100,000 from the money.
The minor said when he was discharged from the hospital, Olorunlaye asked him to get a hotel to stay in and that he should not mention his name in the whole thing.
“I was still in pain and decided to go back home, My friend broke the news to my brother that I had removed one of my kidneys.
“My brother immediately informed my father and he came and asked me to remove my shirt and he saw the stitches,” he said.
He said he met the MD of the hospital at the police station for the first time.
The minor said the MD approached his family and asked them to withdraw the matter from the police because he will take care of them.
During cross-examination, the prosecuting counsel asked the boy to raise his shirt for the court to see his scar and asked about his health.
The boy said he feels pain in the area sometimes and is still on medication
The defence counsel, Afam Osigwe, SAN showed the boy the consent form and the affidavit from the high court and asked if he signed the documents and if his photograph was on the document.
He also asked if the boy stated in the document that he was 20 years old and that he wanted to donate a kidney for one Usman Mohammed, who he said was his cousin.
He replied that he only signed on a light pen and denied donating his kidney to Mohammed.
The prosecution however asked for an adjournment to enable him continue with his re-examination concerning the witness statement of oath made in the civil suit filed earlier in another High Court.
Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya granted the application and adjourned the case until Wednesday for continuation of hearing.
On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 7:02 PM HONESTY VICTOR [email protected] wrote:
Federation Cup round of 32 to begin May 22 (See Fixtures)
Men’s football teams will commence hostilities at the 2024 President Federation Cup in the Round of 32 matches from May 22.
In a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Head of Communications on Tuesday, a total of 16 matches will be played across 11 centers of the federation.
Enugu, Ilorin, Ibadan, Benin City, Kaduna, Awka, Sokoto, Yenagoa ,Bauchi, Auchi and Abuja will host the 16 games.
Thirteen of the matches will be held on Wednesday May 22 while the remaining three, in Benin City and Abuja , will take place on Thursday.,”Olajire said in a statement.
MEN’S ROUND OF 32 MATCHES
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) – Abuja Area 3 – 22/05/24 – 4pm
EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra) – Ilorin – 22/05/24 – 4pm
ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi) – Abuja Goal Project – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara) – Abuja Bwari – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) – Kaduna – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo) – Awka – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu) – Benin City – 23/05/24 – 4pm
Hammola International (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos) – Ibadan – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara) – Enugu – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT) – Benin City – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto) – Kano – 22/05/24 – 4pm
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia) – Yenagoa – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo) – Abuja Goal Project – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger) – Auchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) – Abuja? Bwari – 22/05/24 – 4pm
Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano) – Bauchi – 22/05/24 – 4pm
NAN reports that Cup holders Bendel Insurance are up against Wikki Tourists of Bauchi at the Area 3 football pitch, Abuja.
On Tue, May 7, 2024 at 4:00 PM Otitoloju ayomide [email protected] wrote:
Foreign military base claim: 259 groups accuse Northern elites of trying to instigate crisis
A coalition of 259 anti-corruption, civil society and human rights groups, Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER) has accused members of the Northern elite group who raised the alarm of a plan by the Federal Government to allow the relocation of United States of America and French military bases in Francophone West African countries to Nigeria, of attempt to instigate crisis in the country.
COTER alleged that the Northern elites cried out over the alleged plan by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration with a view to causing disaffection between the government and the Nigerian populace.
COTER’s President, Dr Peter China Chukwu and General Secretary, Mallam Auta Ibrahim Koko, stated this on behalf of the Coalition in a statement in reaction to the Northern elite group’s letter to President Tinubu on the matter.
According to the Coalition, the Northern elites have only cried wolf where none exists with a view to heightening the tempo of domestic opposition and animosity to the current administration.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris had on Monday clarified that the Federal Government was not considering request from any country to establish a military base in Nigeria.
The Minister had dismissed as unfounded reports that the government was considering a request for the citing of a military base in Nigeria, stressing that the Federal Government “is not in any such discussion with any foreign country.”
In the same vein, the French Government, on Monday, ruled out any plan to site a military base in Nigeria.
Head of Communication at the Embassy of France in Nigeria, Onyinye Madu, in an interview with Punch, said, “The French Embassy in Nigeria would like to point out that contrary to the claims made in the open letter quoted in the article, no discussions have taken place or are planned between France and Nigeria regarding the relocalisation of military bases.”
Following the military coup in the Sahel country, relations between Niger Republic and France soured.
France condemned the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, insisting on restoring constitutional order.
After seizing power, the junta demanded France’s military departure, a demand echoed by neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, both former French colonies, post-successful coups.
With over 1,500 troops stationed in Niger, France played a crucial role in combating jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, aiming to curb terrorism across the Sahel.
Exploiting anti-Western sentiments, Russia ventured into the region, capitalising on Niger’s expulsion of French forces. In January, Niger’s military government agreed to bolster military cooperation with Russia.
In March, it revoked an accord with the US, allowing American troops to operate on two bases, prompting the closure of a $100m military drone base near Agadez. The Russian alliance deepened as military instructors arrived in Niger, equipped to train its army.
The clarification by the Minister and the French Government followed a letter written by some Northern elites to President Tinubu warning him against hosting United States and French military bases in Nigeria.
The letter dated May 3, 2024, had stated that the US and France are lobbying Nigeria and other Gulf of Guinea countries for defence agreements to relocate their troops previously in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic.
The Northern elites had also expressed worries that the President Tinubu-led administration might agree to the defence pact and jeopardise Nigeria’s defence and security.
The Northern elites’ letter also copied the National Assembly, was signed by Abubakar Mohammed of the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT); Kabiru Chafe, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, from the Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP); Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Jibrin Ibrahim of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD); Auwal Musa (Rafsanjani) of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CCISLAC); and YZ Ya’u of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD).
COTER however described the alarm raised by the Northern elites in their letter to President Tinubu and the National Assembly as lacking any iota of truth.
COTER argued that such an alarm was capable of causing panic amongst the citizenry with the people in some of the already volatile regions taking to the streets in protest, thereby giving room for a crisis that may explode and engulf the entire country.
The Coalition wondered why some Northern elites in 2024 would want to re-awaken the issue decided against by the Nigerian government since the early 1960s, when the matter of a military pact with the British government came up.
COTER stated that the President Tinubu-led administration knew more than enough about the primary objectives of Nigeria’s foreign and defence policies to accede to any request by any foreign power to site a military base in Nigeria.
It added that Nigeria’s membership of the Non-aligned Movement and the BRICS countries precluded the country from offering its territory to any foreign power to establish a military base.
COTER said, “The false alarm raised by some Northern elites over alleged plans by the Federal Government to accede to the request by the United States of America and France to relocate their military bases in Burkina Faso and Niger Republic to Nigeria, raises some concerns about the intention of these letter writers.
“It is clear that their intention is to cause disaffection between the Federal Government and citizens of Nigeria. They are only trying to explore the religious sensitivity of some sections of the country to instigate crisis. This is very dangerous for the country as this may result in a conflagration that may engulf and even consume the entire country.
“Nigeria’s stance and policy on this matter is very clear and unambiguous. It’s the country’s foreign and defence policies not to enter into any military pact with any foreign power. Previous governments and the current administration of President Bola Tinubu have abided and operated by these policies, even since the early 1960s.
“The raising of such an alarm by some people in 2024 because of their privileged positions is suspect. There is a hidden agenda by this group of people, which is not known to the rest of the citizens of Nigeria.
“COTER, therefore, urges this privileged and respected Nigerians not to fan any ember of discord in the country by their statement. They should exercise serious restraints and caution in their utterances and outbursts in order not to inflame the already tense situation Nigerians are currently in. Our focus should be on how to collectively lift Nigeria, our dear country, to an enviable pedestal in the comity of nations in the world.”
