A consultant plastic surgeon, Dr. Torngee Malu, has called for greater recognition of kidney donors and medical professionals involved in transplant procedures, arguing that legitimate organ donation should not be confused with alleged illegal organ harvesting.
Dr. Malu made the call on Tuesday, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, while discussing the recent arrest and parade of two doctors and other suspects by the police over an alleged organ-harvesting syndicate in Nasarawa State.
The surgeon said people who voluntarily donate organs for legitimate medical purposes should be encouraged rather than subjected to public condemnation.
“I think that these people should be celebrated and not victimised. Both the people who had the heart to donate a kidney and those who carried out the procedure—they should be celebrated,” Malu said.
He described voluntary donors and medical professionals who perform legitimate transplant procedures as important contributors to healthcare and urged authorities to distinguish lawful medical procedures from criminal organ trafficking.
The surgeon also argued that Nigeria needs a properly regulated system for organ donation and transplantation, rather than allowing social media allegations to shape public perception before investigations are completed.
He referred to reported kidney transplant procedures carried out earlier in the year and said successful medical outcomes demonstrate the importance of making legitimate transplant services more accessible.
The surgeon further discussed Nigeria’s kidney disease burden and argued that the country should encourage more voluntary organ donation within an appropriately regulated medical framework.
On the legal provisions governing organ donation, Malu said Nigerian law permits kidney and other forms of organ donation under specified conditions.
He explained that such procedures should involve adults, informed consent and treatment in properly equipped medical facilities.
According to Malu, the circumstances surrounding the case under investigation should therefore be examined carefully to determine whether the legal requirements for consent and medical practice were satisfied.
He claimed that the individuals involved in the procedures were adults and had reportedly consented to the operations.
Malu further said the doctors involved had indicated that consent documents and affidavits were obtained from the donors, adding that these issues should form part of the authorities’ investigation.
He also maintained that the procedures were carried out in a recognised hospital by qualified medical personnel.
The surgeon criticised what he described as social media-driven condemnation of medical practitioners before the facts of a case had been fully established.
He urged Nigerians to allow investigators to determine whether any criminal offence occurred rather than relying solely on claims circulated online.
The police had earlier arrested four suspects during a sting operation at Auta Balifi in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Those paraded by the police were Emmanuel Ode, 23; Dr Benjamin Oyime, 48, a nephrologist and consultant at Wellington Hospital, Life Camp, Abuja; Dr Daniel Otukpa, 53, also a nephrologist and Acting Director of Clinical Services at the hospital; and David Idoko, 25.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, Ode allegedly confessed to recruiting victims under false pretences.
The police alleged that one victim was taken to Wellington Hospital in April 2026, where his kidney was allegedly removed after he was paid $1,250. Another alleged case was said to have occurred in 2022.
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The Force further alleged that the suspects and their accomplices targeted vulnerable young people and exploited their financial difficulties in obtaining consent for what the police described as illegal organ harvesting.
The police said investigations were continuing and that efforts were underway to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly connected to the case.
Malu’s comments have added another perspective to the controversy, with the surgeon calling for a distinction between legitimate organ transplantation and any criminal activity that may have occurred in the case under investigation.
The final determination of whether any laws were breached will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and any subsequent legal proceedings.
