By Ali Elias
Following our report, Doctor Allegedly Harvests 13-Year-Old Boy’s Kidney During Surgery, Police Complicit, Father Cries Out For Justice, we received what appears to be an earlier statement outlining the Enugu State Government’s efforts to clarify the allegations surrounding the-now-15-year-old Chidera Nnamdi. Investigations revealed the boy was born with only one kidney. In the statement, Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, shared findings from credible medical facilities, refuting the claims and exposing the role of quack practitioners in the initial procedure. The government, she emphasized, is committed to ensuring justice and has offered further investigations at any facility of the family’s choice. Below is the full clarification:
Enugu State Govt Clarifies Boy’s Kidney Removal Saga
… _Says multiple medical investigations show Chidera born with one kidney
The Enugu State Government has provided clarification on the story on the alleged removal of the kidney of a 15-year old boy, Chidera Nnamdi, during a medical procedure in 2022, saying medical investigations by the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla and Hansa Clinics, showed the said boy had no left kidney.
The clarification was made on Sunday in a statement by the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, who also said that medical examinations showed that the only cut on the boy was a small incision on the right side of his lower abdomen, noting that medical doctors said it was medically impossible to remove anybody’s kidney from an appendectomy procedure.
“As usual, the Enugu State Government took interest in this matter and swung into action upon receipt of the complaint, working closely with the police to determine the facts of the matter.
“First, Chidera was taken to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, Enugu, where medical investigations showed that no kidney was harvested, as the boy was born with only one kidney.
“The doctors established that the only cut on the boy was a small incision on the right side of his lower abdomen for an appendectomy procedure.
“It was also discovered that Chidera was suffering from serious stomach ulcer, which could partly explain the abdominal pains.
“The boy’s father rejected the initial result, following which the boy was taken to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, (UNTH) Enugu, for further probe. The findings were exactly the same as those of the ESUT Teaching Hospital. The nephrologists also recommended an CT scan if there was still some doubt.
“The CT scan was done on him at Hansa Clinics, one of the best and most reputable facilities in Enugu.
“Excerpt of the CT scan report dated 11th October 2024 and signed by Prof S.O Mgbor, Medical Director and Consulting Radiologist reads: ‘The left kidney is not seen in its expected position and there is no demonstrable vermiform structure elsewhere in the abdomen or lung bases. No left venal blood vessels seen. The suprarenal glands on both sides are intact.’”
Mrs. Enih further explained that it was also discovered during investigation by the police that both the supposed medical doctor, hospital, and laboratory patronised by Chidera’s parents were quacks.
She highlighted that the x-ray report being flaunted to demonstrate that Chidera used to have two kidneys also showed that he had prostate enlargement at age 13, which was the boy’s age when the x-ray was conducted in 2022.
“The police had to begin to trace the source of the confusion, starting from the laboratory in Nsukka area. It was discovered that they were in the habit of faking results by simply copying and pasting other people’s results and issuing them as genuine.
“It was discovered that the X-ray result copied, pasted and issued to Chidera’s parents was that of an adult male, a crime the lab technician confessed to and was arraigned alongside the quack doctor.
“Despite all these efforts, Chidera’s father was still dissatisfied with all the outcomes, hence the government now asked him to choose any other facility, including facilities outside Enugu State, and the police would be made to take the boy to the place for further medical investigation.
“Meanwhile, it was discovered in the course of investigation that Joe Foundation Hospital and Maternity in Igboeze South LGA was not registered with the Enugu State Ministry of Health, hence it was sealed after the investigation.
“The so-called Dr. Shedrack Obinna Ekeh is also not registered with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, hence a quack.
“These findings explain their being charged for forgery and practicing without a license, not organ removal,” she added.
She, however said that the Magistrate had ordered that the case file be transferred to the Attorney-General/Department of Public Prosecution, which would now review the case, including the charges, and advise/act appropriately.
“What is clear from the series of the medical investigations so far is that Chidera’s kidney was not removed.
“But even equally importantly, the boy’s parents are still free to recommend any other health facility of their choice, while anyone who is genuinely interested in the matter can also sponsor him to any reputable medical facility of his or choice. The bottom line is that justice is seen to have been done,” Mrs Enih concluded.
Despite this clarification, questions about whether children can be born with only one kidney, combined with the general distrust in our society, prompted Rareview News Report to seek the opinions of other medical doctors outside the eastern region where the incident occurred. These doctors, as we confirmed, were unaware of the case and could not have been influenced in any way.
We spoke with a medical director who owns a hospital in Lagos about whether children can be born with only one kidney. His response was emphatic: “Yes, not too common, but not uncommon too,” he explained, adding, “You even have some where the kidney would be in the wrong place, just like people born with one testis.”
When asked if children born with one kidney might experience any health issues, he clarified: “If it is only that kidney that is missing, they may not suffer anything. But there are some people, in addition to one kidney not being formed, who may have other abnormalities affecting other structures. If those structures are also affected during development, they may have other complaints. But if it’s just the kidney and it’s completely normal, he will not have any complaints,” he concluded.
Two other doctors in Lagos and one from the general hospital in Kubwa, Abuja, expressed similar views.
Our investigations on the internet show that, ‘Yes, a child can be born with only one kidney, a condition known as unilateral renal agenesis. This occurs when one kidney fails to develop during pregnancy. Many people with this condition lead healthy lives, as a single kidney is often capable of performing the functions needed to filter blood and regulate the body’s fluid levels effectively.
‘In most cases, individuals born with one kidney experience no symptoms or health issues. However, there may be a slightly increased risk of high blood pressure, protein in the urine, or reduced kidney function over time. Regular medical check-ups and a healthy lifestyle are usually sufficient to manage these risks and ensure long-term well-being’.