Wellington Clinics, an Abuja-based medical facility, has denied involvement in any illegal organ transaction linked to a kidney transplant involving a donor identified in its records as Abubakar Hassan, as the Nigeria Police Force investigates the circumstances surrounding the procedure.

The hospital, in a statement issued on Tuesday, said it was cooperating with investigators and expected the police to establish the facts of the case.

The development comes amid growing concerns over alleged unethical practices in organ transplantation and calls for stronger safeguards for donors and recipients.

Wellington Clinics said the donor kidney removal procedure was conducted at its facility under the supervision of a licensed senior consultant nephrologist and in line with applicable professional and regulatory requirements.

The hospital said it complied with the National Health Act 2014 and relevant guidelines of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

According to the facility, the donor’s actual name was Samuel Ezekiel, but he allegedly obtained an affidavit from the FCT High Court and subsequently presented himself as Abubakar Hassan.

In the statement signed by its Director of Administration, Yemi Olatunbosun, the hospital said its records were based on the identity and other documents supplied by the donor at the time of admission.

Wellington maintained that it neither facilitated nor negotiated any financial arrangement involving the kidney transplant and did not receive any benefit from such a transaction.

It said the procedure was undertaken to save the life of a patient suffering from end-stage kidney failure and that the donor had been recorded as a consenting adult.

The hospital explained that it relied on the documentation presented during admission and had no independent basis at the time to suspect that the donor’s identity had been falsified.

Among the documents presented by the donor, according to the facility, were a court affidavit, digital National Identification Number slip, birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission, affidavit of consent and statutory declaration of age.

The hospital added that the donor was accompanied by a man identified as Abubakar Isa, who was presented as his brother.

Wellington said the donor was admitted on April 24, 2026, under the name Abubakar Hassan, with a date of birth of February 4, 2000, and hospital number WCA/8066/2026.

He underwent a left donor nephrectomy the same day and was discharged on April 28, the hospital said.

The donor was subsequently readmitted on July 11 for wound care and removal of remaining stitches before being discharged two days later.

The hospital said the donor had explained that he had travelled, which prevented him from attending some previously scheduled follow-up appointments.

According to Wellington, the kidney removed during the procedure was immediately transplanted into a patient diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease.

It stressed that neither the donor nor the recipient died as a result of the operation.

The facility further explained that the surgery was carried out by a specialist team led by Dr Benjamin Friday Oyimeh, a Senior Consultant Nephrologist and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Medical and Kidney Centre.

Olatunbosun said Wellington’s involvement was limited to providing its operating theatre, equipment and other infrastructure under an agreed facility rental arrangement.

He explained that, under the hospital’s collaboration arrangement with specialist teams, the lead consultant is responsible for patient recruitment, medical assessment, donor-recipient compatibility checks, informed consent, ethical screening and other clinical and medico-legal responsibilities.

The hospital said the specialist team was therefore responsible for ensuring compliance with relevant health laws and professional guidelines in relation to the donor and recipient.

Wellington added that it was not aware of any financial or other relationship between the donor, recipient, members of the nephrology team or any other individual connected with the case.

Following the emergence of the allegations, the hospital said it suspended all kidney transplant-related services pending the conclusion of investigations.

The facility said it remained committed to ethical and evidence-based medical practice and would comply with the findings of the ongoing investigation.

It urged the relevant authorities to consider the records and documents submitted during the donor’s admission as part of their investigation, saying the materials would help establish the hospital’s role in the transplant.