Oluwatobi Sulaiman, first witness called by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) in a suit against Alliance hospital has admitted before Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory that he was 18 years when he donated his kidney for a transplant at the hospital.
Sulaiman, a kidney donor, made the admission when he was cross examined by counsel for the defence, Mazi Afam Osuigwe SAN.
Led in evidence by Hassan Tahir, counsel to NAPTIP, Sulaiman, had told the court how he signed relevant documents before the surgery, adding that he was at the Federal High Court Abuja, where he signed declaration of age, and that he was not donating his kidney for monetary compensation, assuring that the recipient was his relative .
Asked by Afam Osigwe, if he signed an affidavit at the Federal High Court Abuja, wherein he stated that he was 18 years old, the witness answered in the affirmative.
Upon examination, Sulaiman had initially told the court that he was 16 years, just as he claimed 17 in his statement on oath at NAPTIP.
On his relationship with the kidney recipient, the witness confirmed he was his relative and that he was not compelled to donate his kidney, admitting he signed the affidavit and consent documents at the High Court before the surgery.
Contrary to the witness claim before the court that he travelled to Ibadan after the surgery, however, his statement on oath with NAPTIP, stated he travelled to Lagos.
Similarly, under cross examination, the 2nd prosecution witness, Yahaya Musa, in his oral testimony in court, said he was 16 years, against 17 years he stated in his statement on oath at NAPTIP.
Whereas, in the court affidavit, he said he was 18 years, the 2nd witness told the court that he was 16 years when he signed the consent form and deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court.
More so upon cross examination, the witness said that most of the depositions on the statement on oath were not his and that they were not written by him.
When asked by the defence counsel if there was any time he intended to opt out of the process, he answered no.
On whether he was aware of what he signed in the consent form and the possible repercussions, Musa said he was much aware to the extent that Dr Aremu Abayomi told him that the surgery will be smooth and safe and nothing will happen to him, which he agreed and proceeded with the surgery.
Also, when asked by the defence counsel if he knew any of staff of Alliance Hospital staff, who are Dr Christopher Otabor, Chikaodili Ugochukwu and Dr Aremu Abayomi, the 2nd prosecution witness answered in the negative explaining that he has never met with any of them.
In a bid to establish any atom of relationship with the hospital, the defence counsel asked the witness if at any time a staff of the hospital gave him money in cash or paid into his bank account if he had any, Musa said no.
He told the court that he came into contact with Doctor Otabor for the first time when the police invited them for investigation.
Aminu Yahuza, 25, another witness, called by NAPTIP, who was cross examined, completely denied his statement on oath to NAPTIP, claiming he neither deposed to it nor signed it.
On the NAPTIP document, Yahuza place of origin, is Mangu LGA, while in his oral testimony, he said he hailed from Yelwa Local Government Area of Plateau state.
Furthermore, Yunusa’s account of his interaction with the defendants, Dr. Christopher Otabor, Chikaodili Ugochukwu, and Dr. Aremu Abayomi, was inconsistent.
While initially stating that his friend Abdul informed him that one Mayowa wanted him to sell his kidney, he later claimed that a manager contacted his “link man” Mayor directly.
However, Yahuza told the court that he never met any of the staff of the hospital until he was brought to the hospital by Mayor
It was the defence counsel contention that Yunusa had already negotiated the deal to sell his kidney for N1million naira with Mayowa and Abdul before any involvement with the hospital, emphasizing that none of the hospital officials offered him money for the donation.
Yunusa affirmed this position, when he stated he was neither offered nor collected any money from any official of the hospital.
