On Friday, September 3, Mr. Noah Kekere and two others were arraigned at a High Court Nine situated in Jos, Plateau State capital, for allegedly harvesting one of the kidneys of one Mrs. Kehinde Kamal at his clinic in Jos.

It was gathered that Kamal was operated upon in 2018 for ruptured appendicitis in Murna Hospital (popularly called in the Hausa language Asibitin Yellow) due to the fair complexion of Kamal. She allegedly continued to suffer from a severe stomachache about five years after the procedure.

A check in other health facilities to know the cause of the stomach issue allegedly revealed she had just one kidney, and this led to the invitation of the police which arrested Kekere, one Dr. Philip Dachung and one Yusuf Abdullahi who all work in Murna Hospital.

The NMA has distanced itself from Kekere, saying he is not their member and information has it that he read economics for his first and second degrees.

The trio were arraigned on a four-count charge which bordered on selling human organs, taking an organ of the victim without his consent and others. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the accused persons, A. S. Shaakaa, applied for bail for his clients, stating that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

But the prosecuting counsel, William David, objected to the bail application considering “the magnitude of the offense allegedly committed by the defendants”.

The court adjourned the case till 18th and 19th January 2024 for commencement of hearing and added that parties in the matter will be communicated on the date for ruling on the bail application and the accused persons are remanded in the Jos Correctional Centre pending when their bail applications are ruled on.

Kamal, alleged victim, her husband and other family members were in court to witness the proceeding.