Wellington Clinics has denied allegations linking the hospital to an alleged organ trafficking case involving a kidney donor, Abubakar Hassan.
The hospital’s Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director, Charles Ugwuanyi, said the facility was neither involved in donor recruitment nor any financial arrangement between the donor and recipient.
Ugwuanyi made the clarification during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.
He explained that the kidney transplant procedure was carried out through a partnership arrangement between Wellington Clinics and Crown Medical and Kidney Transplant Services, led by Benjamin Oyimeh.
According to him, both organisations had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before the commencement of transplant-related services.
Hospital Says It Provided Medical Infrastructure Only
Ugwuanyi described Wellington Clinics as a multispecialty healthcare institution with expertise in areas including brain surgery, spine surgery and intensive care services.
He said the hospital’s advanced medical facilities allow independent specialists and healthcare organisations to utilise its infrastructure through structured agreements.
He explained that the arrangement with Crown Medical involved the use of Wellington Clinics’ operating theatre and medical environment for procedures.
“The hospital provides the required surgical environment, while the specialist team manages the clinical aspects of the transplant process,” he said.
The medical director denied claims that Wellington Clinics participated in donor recruitment, negotiated any transaction, facilitated payments or benefited financially from the kidney donation.
Specialist Team Handled Donor Assessment
According to Ugwuanyi, the transplant team led by Oyimeh was responsible for key medical and ethical processes, including:
- Identifying and evaluating donors
- Assessing donor-recipient compatibility
- Obtaining informed consent
- Conducting ethical screening
- Handling clinical and medico-legal requirements
He maintained that there was no breach of the agreement between Wellington Clinics and Crown Medical.
Ugwuanyi said the procedure involving Hassan was conducted in line with provisions of Nigeria’s National Health Act 2014.
Donor Provided Required Documents, Hospital Says
The hospital confirmed that Hassan underwent a left donor nephrectomy, a procedure involving the removal of a kidney for donation, at Wellington Clinics on April 24, 2026.
The procedure was led by Dr Benjamin Oyimeh.
Ugwuanyi said all required documentation was provided before the operation, including a court affidavit indicating the donor’s consent.
However, he acknowledged that the circumstances surrounding the case remained under investigation.
Hospital Highlights Nigeria’s Anti-Organ Trafficking Guidelines
Ugwuanyi said Nigeria has established regulatory standards for organ and tissue transplantation aimed at ensuring ethical practices and preventing illegal organ trade.
He highlighted some key principles guiding transplant procedures, including: Prohibition of commercial organ sales, voluntary donation without financial reward, protection of vulnerable individuals from exploitation, requirement for informed consent
He said the guidelines cover procedures involving kidneys, liver, bone marrow, stem cells, corneas, gamete and embryo storage, as well as surrogacy-related services.
Transplant Facilities Subject to Certification and Monitoring
The medical director also highlighted the role of the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee (NTHISC) in assessing and certifying healthcare facilities authorised to provide transplant services.
He said national organ donation and transplantation registries are important for monitoring procedures, donor safety and patient outcomes.
Ugwuanyi added that transplant centres are expected to provide long-term medical and psychological follow-up care for donors after surgery.
Investigation Continues Into Kidney Donation Case
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Abubakar Hassan is listed in Wellington Clinics’ records as the kidney donor involved in the April 24 procedure.
The circumstances surrounding the donor’s identity, consent process and legality of the donation remain subjects of investigation.
