Organ harvest: I was deceived to donate my kidney — Victim

Operatives of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State, have arrested one Stephen for his alleged involvement in organ harvesting. The suspect was alleged to have deceived a 42-year-old mechanic, Chimaobi Eric Nwoko, to donate his kidney to save his (Stephen’s) sick brother, identified as Osinachi. Detectives are currently on the trail of three members […]

Operatives of Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos State, have arrested one Stephen for his alleged involvement in organ harvesting.

The suspect was alleged to have deceived a 42-year-old mechanic, Chimaobi Eric Nwoko, to donate his kidney to save his (Stephen’s) sick brother, identified as Osinachi.

Detectives are currently on the trail of three members of the syndicate.

The victim, Nwoko, alleged that the suspect promised to compensate him with $20m, a house in the US and a job if he agreed to donate his kidney to save the life of his younger brother.

Nwoko said, “I was a mechanic before I was employed by Mr Steven’s company in Ikeja as a driver in November, 2018. I was assigned to drive his brother, Osinachi. He was sick and it was my responsibility to take him to hospital for dialysis.

“Two weeks later, he (Stephen) asked to see me in his office. He thanked me for taking care of his brother and that Osinachi had a few days to die.

“I was so excited that my life would change for good. They took me and Osinachi to the hospital and they did tests. The doctor said that my kidney was a perfect match. 

“On the agreed date, I was admitted for three days in preparation for the surgery. After the surgery, I was given drugs which I took for about a week while Mr Steve rented a room for me at Mowe in Ogun State. Since then, till date no drugs or any kind of treatment was given to me.”

While disclosing that he got a call from Mr Steve to resume work, Nwoko said, “I was shocked and asked him if that was part of the deal. He assured me that he would keep to it but that I should resume work as a driver. He placed me on a N70,000 salary a month and warned that my salary would be deducted if I failed to come to work. I thought it was a joke but he kept punishing me even if I was sick. I suffered so much but I kept believing that one day he would keep to his promise.

“It was some weeks ago after I received a call from my mother that I decided to open up. She alerted my siblings and we reported the matter at the police station, Zone 2.”

On how he was able to give consent before the surgery, Chimaobi said he was asked to present Deborah, sister to his boss’ as wife, to sign, noting that, “I was told that my family would kick against it, so I needed to agree with whatever I was told.

“She was the one who signed as my wife before the surgery was done. They gave me documents to sign both in the hospital and in Mr Steve’s office. Mr Steve said that there was no need to read the documents.  I was hungry and from a very poor family, my wish was that giving my kidney in exchange for compensation would change my life and that of my family.”

He added that, “I am only asking Mr Steve to pay me the compensation he promised so that I can survive with the only kidney left. His brother is very healthy now while I am dying.”

Also, Mrs Gloria Nwoko, said, “He is an adult and I don’t need to keep following him around. I prayed for him all these years, and whenever I saw him, he would act as if all was well. He was losing so much weight and I assumed it was the demands of his job as a driver. On October 13, he called and told me the truth.

“I am only asking Mr Steve to help my son survive like his own brother. It is evil for him to use my son and abandon him to die. I know that we are poor, the AIG Zone 2 will help us get justice.”

Counsel to the victim, Barrister Tony Dania, said, “It is a case of kidney theft, because the kidney of the victim was taken deceitfully. The victim, Nwoko, works with Mr Steve Akazue, MD of De-Akasten Global Limited, Ikeja. Steve was abroad when he gave instructions that his brother should be driving Osinachi Akazue. He was having kidney problems. Steve approached the victim to donate his kidney for his younger brother, Osinachi. The victim expressed fear and he made promises, including $20m and a trip to America to stay.”