Nigerian man tricks friend into selling his kidney, spends the money on phones and gadgets

• Samuel Ezekiel alleged that his friend introduced him to an illegal kidney removal network.

• He said his friend collected the payment and spent it on phones, power banks and Wi-Fi devices.

• Police have paraded suspects, including medical professionals, as investigations continue.

A Nigerian man has alleged that his friend deceived him into selling his kidney at a private hospital in Abuja, then collected the payment and spent it on phones, power banks and Wi-Fi devices before eventually selling his phone for transport fare home.

Samuel Ezekiel made the allegation during the Nigeria Police Force parade of suspects linked to an alleged organ harvesting syndicate operating across Abuja and Nasarawa State on Friday.

According to Ezekiel, his friend Emmanuel Odeh introduced him to an agent identified as Ben, who connected him with a network that facilitated illegal kidney removals. He said Odeh reassured him throughout the process that the procedure was harmless and would not affect his quality of life.

Before the surgery, Ezekiel said his identity was changed to "Hassan Abubakar" through an affidavit prepared at the Federal High Court, after which he was taken to Wellington Hospital in Life Camp, Abuja, where the procedure was carried out on April 24.

He said he was paid in dollars, several $100 notes and a $50 note, but handed the money to Odeh, who he said converted it and proceeded to spend the bulk of it on personal items.

When Ezekiel eventually asked about the money, Odeh told him it was gone. With no funds for transport back to Abuja after months in Cross River State, Odeh collected and sold Ezekiel's phone to cover the fare.

The alleged syndicate was exposed after activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, revealed that a young man had approached his NGO with medical evidence showing that his left kidney was missing. Police subsequently launched an investigation that led to a sting operation in the Auta Balefi area of Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.

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Among those paraded on Friday were two nephrologists: Dr Benjamin Oyime, a consultant to Wellington Hospital, and Dr Daniel Otukpa, Acting Director of Clinical Services at the same facility, alongside alleged recruiters including Odeh and David Idoko.

Police allege the syndicate specifically targeted vulnerable young people and used forged documents and false identities to facilitate the procedures. Investigations are ongoing.