Organ Harvesting: Culprits To Face Full Wrath Of Law — Federal Gov’t

The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned what it described as barbaric inhuman criminal practice of organ trafficking.

Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, who stated this on Wednesday in a statement signed by the director, media and public relations of the Ministry of Health, Patricia Deworitshe, noted that Sections 51-56 of the National Health Act (NHA), 2014 prohibits such illegality.

He said: “Persons who contravene or fail to comply with the provisions of the section commit an offence and is liable on conviction or a fine of N1,000,000 or imprisonment of not less than two years or both.

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“It is pertinent to note that both the seller and the buyers of this illegal trade as well as the medical practitioners and facilities where this criminal act is being performed will face the full wrath of the law.”

Pate said donation of kidneys should be on informed consent of the donor, done based on medical advice with privileged information about the process in order to save lives.

However, he said the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) was looking into allegations levelled against medical practitioners engaged in such activities.