Kidney harvest allegation: EKSUTH sets up 7-member panel to probe patient’s claim

By Ade Ade

The Board of Management of Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, has set up a seven-member panel to investigate an allegation by a patient, Mr. Joshua Afolayan, who claims one of his kidneys was removed without his consent during surgery at the facility.

Afolayan, a teacher with the Ekiti State Government, said he had an accident in August 2025 and was later told by hospital staff that one of his kidneys had been damaged. According to him, multiple scans, including those conducted at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, confirmed that only his right kidney was impaired, while the left remained functional.

He alleged that after undergoing surgery in October, he suddenly became unable to urinate, despite urinating shortly before the operation. He said repeated attempts to seek clarification from EKSUTH failed.

Afolayan further claimed that upon visiting another medical facility for proper assessment, he was informed he had no functioning kidneys, insisting he had been “living without any kidney” since the surgery. He appealed to the government to urgently investigate, saying he continues to experience severe pain.

Reacting to the controversy, Head of Corporate Affairs at EKSUTH, Rolake Adewumi, announced that the hospital had constituted an independent panel of enquiry chaired by Prof. Francis Fadiyile, an Anatomic Pathologist from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Other members include Prof. Patrick Temi Adegun of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti; Dr. Henry Abiyere of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti; and Dr. Adebola Adeniyi-Agbaje, General Manager of Progress FM, Ado-Ekiti.

Also on the panel are Rev. Emmanuel Aribasoye, Ekiti State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); High Chief (Prof.) Babatunde Akindele, the Elemo of Ado-Ekiti; and Barr. Adebayo Titilayo of the Ekiti State Ministry of Health, who will serve as secretary.

Adewumi said the panel has been given 10 days to submit its report.

She assured the public that the hospital would “leave no stone unturned” in uncovering the facts of the case, stressing that all panel members are reputable and independent individuals who would act with fairness and justice.

The hospital appealed to all parties involved, as well as the general public, to fully cooperate with the panel as its findings are awaited.