In a sweeping response to public concern and serious allegations regarding a surgical procedure at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), the Ekiti State Government has dismissed a surgeon and suspended other medical staff following claims of an unlawful kidney removal during an operation on a patient named Mr. Joshua Afolayan. The decision comes after findings from a state-constituted investigative panel sparked widespread debate about clinical practices and patient safety in the state’s premier teaching hospital.
Government Responds to Allegations
Ekiti State authorities acted swiftly after receiving the detailed report of a seven-member Panel of Enquiry led by Professor Francis Faduyile, which was established to probe the incident at EKSUTH. According to the official statement signed by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, the government accepted the panel’s findings and approved decisive actions against those involved in the controversial surgery.
As part of the government’s directive:
- The surgeon who had primary responsibility for the procedure has been dismissed from service with immediate effect.
- All members of the surgical team present during the operation have been suspended for one month, pending further administrative review and possible disciplinary measures.
- The government also approved full funding for a fresh kidney transplant for Mr. Afolayan, including all associated medical costs and a two-year post-transplant care and maintenance plan.
These actions reflect the administration’s effort to restore public confidence in healthcare delivery and demonstrate a commitment to patient protection and ethical medical practice.
Strengthening Clinical Governance at EKSUTH
In addition to the personnel decisions, the Ekiti State Government has announced plans for a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH. This initiative is aimed at enhancing clinical governance, accountability, and patient safety, ensuring that similar incidents do not recur and that the hospital maintains high standards of care.
The government underscored its confidence in the majority of health professionals at EKSUTH, who it described as dedicated and hardworking. However, it reiterated that professional standards must be upheld without compromise, and that decisive action will be taken where ethical boundaries are breached. T
Broader Implications for Healthcare Standards
The controversial case has sparked conversations about medical ethics, clinical oversight, and patient rights in Nigeria’s healthcare system. In recent years, discussions around organ removal and transplant ethics have gained traction due to both local and international cases involving organ-related controversies. While separate legal and criminal cases abroad have highlighted the severe consequences of unlawful organ harvesting, the EKSUTH situation centers on accountability and professional conduct within Nigeria’s health institutions.
The swift response by the Ekiti government may serve as a precedent for strengthening institutional oversight and reaffirming public trust in the medical profession.
Government’s Message to the Public
Through this series of corrective measures, the Ekiti State leadership has sent a clear message: the safety and well-being of patients are paramount, and no individual — regardless of position or expertise — is above scrutiny when professional standards are questioned. The reorganisation of hospital departments is expected to usher in an era of improved governance and reinforced ethical protocols at EKSUTH.
As debates continue, stakeholders and health sector watchers will be looking closely at how these changes unfold, and how they might influence broader reforms in healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
