March 19, (THEWILL)- The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), on Monday, arraigned a 51-year-old Abuja-based medical practitioner, Dr. Christopher Otabor, and three others before a High Court of the FCT sitting in Zuba over allegations of organ (Kidney) harvesting.
Otabor is the CEO/Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, located in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, which has been enmeshed in the alleged organ harvesting controversy involving some victims.
He was arraigned alongside Emmanuel Muyiwa Olorunlaye, male, 36; Chikaodili Ugochukwu, Female, 37, and Dr. Aremu Abayomi, male 43.
In an official statement signed by NAPTIP Communication Officer, Adekoye Vincent, it was disclosed that, following months of thorough investigation, a prima facie case was established against the defendants, implicating them in varying degrees of culpability for offences related to organ removal, as stipulated under section 20 of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Ruling on the bail application by counsels to the defendants, the presiding Judge, Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya, ordered the defendants to report to the Corporate Headquarters of NAPTIP, Abuja daily with effect from Tuesday 19th March 2024 and also deposit their travelling documents to the court’s registrar.
The Judge also granted the request of the prosecution counsel for an accelerated hearing and subsequently adjourned to May 6th – 9th and 13th – 16th, 2024, for the commencement of trial.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
