The Ekiti State Government has dismissed a surgeon at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) and suspended other members of a surgical team following the report of an independent panel that investigated the alleged removal of a kidney from a patient.
This was disclosed in a press statement issued on Friday, December 19, 2025, by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani, after the government received the report of a seven-member Panel of Enquiry chaired by Professor Francis Faduyile.
The panel was set up 11 days earlier to investigate claims by Mr Joshua Afolayan that a kidney was removed during a surgical procedure he underwent at EKSUTH.
According to the statement, the Ekiti State Government approved the immediate dismissal of the surgeon who had primary responsibility for the operation, while all other members of the surgical team present in the theatre on the day of the procedure have been suspended for one month, pending further administrative review.
In addition, the state government announced that it would bear the full cost of a new kidney transplant for Mr Afolayan and take responsibility for his post-transplant care and transplant-related medical maintenance for a period of two years.
The government also approved a comprehensive reorganisation of relevant departments within EKSUTH, in line with the panel’s recommendations, to strengthen clinical governance, accountability and patient safety.
Dr Filani stressed that while the government appreciates the dedication and sacrifices of health professionals at EKSUTH, it would not hesitate to take decisive action where professional standards are breached.
He clarified that following a thorough review of pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative procedures, the panel confirmed that the incident was a surgical complication and not organ harvesting for ritual purposes, as earlier alleged.
The commissioner reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting patients, upholding ethical and professional standards in healthcare delivery, and restoring public confidence in the Ekiti State health system.
He assured that necessary reforms would be pursued to prevent a recurrence of such incidents and to ensure that EKSUTH continues to function as a centre of excellence in patient care.
The government also thanked the people of Ekiti State for their patience and trust, reiterating its commitment to improved quality healthcare, compassion and responsible governance
