Wellington Clinics in Abuja has issued a statement denying any involvement in a controversial kidney transplant that took place at its facility. The hospital clarified that its role was limited to providing a suitable environment and necessary equipment for the procedure, which was conducted by an independent medical team led by Dr. Benjamin Friday Oyimeh, a Senior Consultant Nephrologist and CEO of Crown Medical and Kidney Centre.

In a statement released by the hospital's Director of Administration, Mr. Yemi Olatunbosun, Wellington Clinics emphasized that it did not engage in any financial transactions related to the transplant. The hospital stated that the responsibility for recruiting, evaluating, and screening both the donor and recipient lay solely with the specialist medical team.

The kidney donor, identified in hospital records as Abubakar Hassan, was admitted on April 24, 2026, and underwent a left donor nephrectomy on the same day. Wellington Clinics explained that under its collaboration model, the lead consultant is tasked with ensuring compliance with the National Health Act of 2014 and the guidelines set by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The hospital detailed that the donor presented several documents upon admission, including a court affidavit, a National Identification Number (NIN) slip, and a birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission. He was accompanied by an individual identified as Abubakar Isa, whom he described as his brother. The donor was discharged four days post-surgery but was readmitted in July for wound management.

Wellington Clinics also stated that the kidney removed from the donor was successfully transplanted into a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure, asserting that neither the donor nor the recipient experienced any fatal complications as a result of the procedure. However, the hospital noted that the donor's real name might be Samuel Ezekiel, as he had previously adopted the name Abubakar Hassan in an affidavit before an FCT High Court.

In light of the ongoing investigation by the Nigeria Police Force, Wellington Clinics has suspended all renal transplant-related services until the matter is resolved. The hospital reiterated its commitment to ethical healthcare practices and expressed its willingness to cooperate fully with the authorities. It has invited investigators to examine its records and documents related to the transplant to clarify its involvement in the situation.

This development comes amid growing concerns about the ethical implications surrounding organ transplants in Nigeria, highlighting the need for strict adherence to legal and medical guidelines in such sensitive procedures.