The rate at which allegations of organ harvesting is becoming a rampant issue in the country, needs the attention of law enforcement agents.
However, a new case involving a teenage boy has surfaced online and drawing attention. It was alleged that his left kidney was illegally removed. Here is the story…
Nnamdi Chidera, 15, is the son of Mr. Nnamdi Francis of Ekoyi Iheaka Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area Enugu state. Sometime in January 2022 when Nnamdi Chidera was 13, he took ill and his father took him to Joe Foundation Hospital and Maternity Iheaka in Igbo Eze South Local government area of Enugu state. The hospital is owned and run by Dr. Shedrach Obinna Ekeh. Upon examination, Dr. Ekeh told Mr Nnamdi Francis that his son had developed appendix and strongly recommended operation. Mr Francis had no option but to accede to Dr. Ekeh’s recommendation believing him to be a qualified medical doctor.
The operation lasted for solid eight(8) hours amidst screams of agonized and excruciating pain from Nnamdi Chidera wafting through theatre room. Francis who couldn’t endure the disturbing shrill voice of his son made a dash for the door of the theatre room but was forcibly restrained by the nurses on duty. He was made to endure and hold in the pain of the agonized cries of his beloved son.
After a while, a deathly silence followed and he assumed his son had died. They later wheeled him out unconscious. They stayed there for further two weeks while he recuperated and still paid through their nose to be discharged.
Nnamdi Chidera continued to complain of chest pain regularly. Something he never did before. He wouldn’t undertake any physical and tasking activity to their great surprise because he used to push wheel barrow for pay in their local market. Francis took him back to Dr. Ekeh who couldn’t offer anything helpful. Francis then took him to another Hospital. The Doctor there was left shocked by what he saw. He immediately ordered a scan. The result showed that Chidera’s left kidney had gone missing. Mr Francis, distraught and shocked, did another scan in four(4) different hospitals and they all returned the same result -the left kidney of his son was missing.
According to Mr Nnamdi Francis, “the only natural and probable conclusion is that Dr. Ekeh illegally and without Mr Francis’ consent and knowledge removed the left kidney of Nnamdi Chidera during the operation he performed on his son in violation of the provision of section 48(1) of The National Health Act 2014 and section 22 of Trafficking in Person (Prohibition) Act 2015 which prohibit and criminalize removal of human organ without first obtaining the consent of the person.” Mr Nnamdi Francis on 17th day of September, 2024, proceeded to file a complaint with the Hon. Commissioner of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development Enugu State who ensured that Dr. Ekeh was arrested by Nigeria Police. Mr Francis who was deeply frustrated by the snail speed of investigation by police and increasingly concerned that this matter has yet to be charged to court. He also heard through grapevine that the Police are leaning towards releasing Dr Eke and exonerating him of all wrong doings despite overwhelmingly cogent and compelling evidence to the contrary as Chidera Francis continue to suffer and complain of excruciating pain for the past two years.
On 12/11/2024, Mr Nnamdi Francis was summoned to Enugu by the police for a meeting with the Commissioner of Police. This has increasingly become normal. The Investigating Police Officer will call them on phone to come Enugu for a meeting with the commissioner of police the following day. Mr. Francis was surprised when he and his son was taken to Magistrate court Enugu where Dr Shadrach Obinna Ekeh was arraigned for PRACTISING MEDICINE WITHOUT LICENSE. He was confused and shocked and was straining at his seat raising his hand to draw the attention of the magistrate to no avail. The complaint he lodged with the police is illegal removal of his son’s kidney & not this. He was not even cited as the nominal complainant. After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty and he was immediately released.
