{
  "id": 4972358,
  "title": "Organ harvesting: Wellington Clinics suspends kidney transplants amid police probe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/organ-harvesting-wellington-clinics-suspends-kidney-transplants-amid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T00:26:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/organ-harvesting-wellington-clinics-suspends-kidney-transplants-amid-police-probe/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abuja's Wellington Clinics has suspended all kidney transplant services following a police investigation into allegations of transactional organ harvesting. The hospital denies any involvement in the alleged scheme. Four suspects, including two doctors, were arrested and charged with deceiving a 22-year-old man, Samuel Ezekiel, into undergoing kidney removal at the clinic. The victim was reportedly paid $1,250 for the procedure. Wellington stated that the donor was admitted under the name Abubakar Hassan and the surgery was performed by Dr Benjamin Friday Oyimeh and his team. The hospital clarified that it provided an operating theatre and an appropriate environment for the procedure under a pre-agreed rental arrangement. Wellington did not participate, facilitate, negotiate, or benefit from any financial arrangement related to the donor or recipient. The hospital's records showed that the donor was treated as a consenting adult and the surgery was conducted in line with the National Health Act 2014 and guidelines of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. Wellington is cooperating fully with the police investigation.",
  "summary": "Wellington Clinics, Abuja, suspends kidney transplants amid police probe into alleged organ harvesting. The clinic denies involvement in transactional arra Read More: https://punchng.com/organ-harvesting-wellington-clinics-suspends-kidney-transplants-amid-police-probe/",
  "key_points": [
    "Wellington Clinics suspends kidney transplants amid police probe",
    "Four suspects, including two doctors, arrested for organ harvesting",
    "Donor treated as consenting adult, surgery per health guidelines"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The suspension of kidney transplants at Wellington Clinics means the hospital is distancing itself from a procedure now linked to a police investigation, potentially damaging its reputation.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Organ harvesting: Wellington Clinics suspends kidney transplants amid police probe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/organ-harvesting-wellington-clinics-suspends-kidney-transplants-amid-4973035",
        "published": "2026-09-02T00:30:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "This Day",
        "title": "Abuja Hospital Denies Alleged Organ Harvesting as Police Launch Probe",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/abuja-hospital-denies-alleged-organ-harvesting-as-police-launch-probe",
        "published": "2026-09-02T03:40:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}