The lawyer to social media influencer VeryDarkMan, Marshall Abubakar, has raised the alarm over an alleged illegal kidney harvesting network, claiming that vulnerable young Nigerians are being lured into procedures by medical practitioners and their agents under false pretences.
Abubakar alleged that more than 10 young Nigerians may have been victims of the scheme, which he described as a criminal enterprise involving medical personnel and intermediaries.
The lawyer made the allegation on Channels Television’s *Morning Brief* on Friday while giving details of a case that reportedly came to the attention of the Martin Luther King Centre, headed by VeryDarkMan.
According to him, the matter began after a young Nigerian approached the centre with a medical report indicating that his left kidney was missing.
Abubakar said the centre did not rely solely on the document but took steps to independently verify the report.
He said the young man was taken to two hospitals in Abuja, including a government medical facility in Jabi, where medical checks reportedly confirmed that his left kidney was absent.
The lawyer alleged that the young man had undergone a medical procedure without fully understanding what had been done to him.
He further claimed that the young man was given about $1,300 after the procedure.
According to Abubakar, steps were also allegedly taken to conceal the young man’s identity and the circumstances surrounding the procedure.
He claimed that the young man’s identity was changed and an affidavit was obtained in another name following the procedure.
The lawyer alleged that the case might not be an isolated incident, saying other young people had reportedly been targeted in areas around Masaka, Nyanya and Mararaba.
He claimed that some of the youths were recruited through agents who allegedly approached vulnerable people with offers of medical procedures or financial assistance.
Abubakar also alleged a wide gap between the amount paid to people whose kidneys were allegedly removed and the money made from the sale of the organs.
According to him, kidneys allegedly harvested from some victims were sold for between N50 million and N70 million, while the alleged donors received only a small part of the money.
The claims, if established, would point to a serious criminal operation involving exploitation of vulnerable people and the illegal removal and sale of human organs.
Abubakar described the alleged practice as a criminal enterprise and stressed that legitimate organ donation must be based on informed consent.
He said no person should be pressured, deceived or financially induced into giving an organ.
The lawyer also alleged that families of some of the affected young people were not informed before the procedures were carried out.
He said some families only became aware of what had happened after the cases began to emerge.
The allegations have raised concerns about the need for stronger monitoring of medical facilities and greater protection for vulnerable people who may be approached by individuals offering medical treatment or financial assistance.
Organ transplantation is a recognised medical procedure that can save lives when conducted within the law and with appropriate medical and ethical safeguards.
However, the donation and transplantation of human organs require strict procedures, including proper medical assessment, informed consent and oversight by relevant authorities.
Financial exploitation can make vulnerable people particularly susceptible to illegal organ trade, especially where poverty and unemployment make large cash payments appear attractive.
Nigeria, like many countries, has laws and regulations governing medical practice and the handling of human organs. Medical practitioners are expected to follow professional and ethical standards, while organ donation should be carried out through recognised medical processes.
The allegations also highlight the importance of patients understanding the procedures they undergo and having access to proper medical records.
Medical professionals are expected to explain procedures, risks and alternatives to patients and obtain appropriate consent before carrying out medical treatment.
Where organ removal is involved, the ethical and legal requirements are even more serious because of the permanent nature of the procedure.
Abubakar said the Martin Luther King Centre became involved because of the concerns raised by the young man who reportedly presented himself at the organisation.
He said the centre subsequently took steps to verify the medical report, leading to checks at hospitals in Abuja.
However, the allegations made by the lawyer have not, in the material available, been independently established by law enforcement authorities or a court.
The identities of the alleged victims, medical practitioners and agents involved have also not been made public.
The claims are therefore expected to require detailed investigation to establish whether the alleged procedures took place, the circumstances under which they were carried out and whether any medical personnel or agents were involved.
Such an investigation would also need to establish whether the missing kidney was removed during a medical procedure, the medical reason for any procedure that may have been carried out and whether the patient gave informed consent.
Authorities would also need to determine the source and destination of any organs allegedly removed and whether there was any financial transaction connected to them.
The allegations come at a time when Nigeria continues to face concerns over the safety and regulation of medical services.
The country’s health sector includes both public and private hospitals, with medical facilities expected to operate under established professional standards and government regulations.
The alleged involvement of agents, if proven, would also raise questions about how vulnerable people are recruited and how medical facilities may be accessed for illegal purposes.
Abubakar’s claims are likely to increase calls for relevant government agencies, professional medical bodies and security authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly.
A credible investigation would help determine whether the reported cases are isolated incidents or part of a wider network.
It would also help identify anyone who may have been exploited and ensure that those responsible, if found guilty, face the law.
The lawyer urged attention to the protection of young Nigerians who may be vulnerable to schemes that promise quick financial rewards.
He stressed that people should be cautious about medical procedures offered by unknown individuals and should seek proper information from recognised health facilities before consenting to treatment.
The allegations have also renewed attention on the importance of informed consent in medical care.
A patient must understand what a medical procedure involves and should not be deceived into undergoing treatment that they did not agree to.
As the controversy develops, the focus will now be on whether the allegations can be independently verified and whether law enforcement and health authorities will open a formal investigation.
If confirmed, the alleged illegal removal and sale of kidneys would represent a serious violation of medical ethics and criminal law and could expose vulnerable Nigerians to permanent injury and other life-threatening consequences.
For now, the lawyer’s allegations remain claims awaiting further investigation, while calls are growing for authorities to establish the facts and protect potential victims of illegal organ trafficking.