FG sets up investigative c’ttee on illegal organ harvesting

The Federal Government has set up a 9-member investigative committee with the mandate of conducting a thorough inquiry into cases of illegal organ harvesting in the country. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the composition of the investigative panel in a letter sent to members of the committee, […]

The Federal Government has set up a 9-member investigative committee with the mandate of conducting a thorough inquiry into cases of illegal organ harvesting in the country.

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the composition of the investigative panel in a letter sent to members of the committee, a copy sighted by our reporter yesterday, said the move followed the recent scandal of illegal organ harvesting in Abuja.

The committee, which is chaired by Dr Jimoh Salaudeen, has Oluwatobi Omosa, Lami Sadiq, Dr Obiajulu Ugbo, Patricia Deworitshe, Dr Ahmadu, Prof. J.O. Awobusuyi, Dr Takure Augustine and Dr Ismaila Adiatu as members.

Among the members of the committee is Daily Trust’s Group Investigative Editor, Hajiya Lami Sadiq, who did a series of investigative reports exposing activities of illegal organ harvesting syndicates in Abuja and environs.

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The setting up of the investigative panel is sequel to the publication of a three-month long investigation by Daily Trust on Sunday which went undercover to expose the illegal kidney trade in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, with million naira pegged as the ‘official’ price for a kidney in the black-market.

The committee is to among other things investigate the entire supply chain of illegal kidney organ harvesting from recruitment to transplantation and to examine the involvement of medical professionals, brokers and recipients of illegal organ trade network.

The committee is also to evaluate existing national and international laws pertaining to organ transplantation and recommend amendments for stronger enforcement, among others.

Members of the committee were given four weeks to carry out their assignment.