"How My Boss Scammed Me Into Donating My Kidney To His Brother" — Driver; Boss Now In Police Custody

By Adesina Soyooye

Nwoko Eric, 42, a native of Abia State, on Tuesday, told a story that is stranger than fiction. According to reports, Nwoko, a driver, who lives in Gbagada Estate, phase 1, Lagos, told Journalists on Tuesday, that a man, his boss, identified as Steve, owner of De-Akasten Global Ltd, Ikeja, whose driver he was, scammed him into donating one of his kidneys to his (boss’) younger brother who suffered from kidney failure.

The method used to, allegedly, scam Nwoko in 2018, would make present day ‘yahoo-yahoo boys’ go green in envy. The promises to him for the kidney? 20m US Dollars, a relocation to the USA, a house in the USA, and a job, still as a driver, in the USA for a big man who has “big-big” cars!

Where Nwoko got many people asking questions as to his mental stability is: With 20m US Dollars and a house in the USA, why would he still be a driver to a big man in the US? With 20m US Dollars, who will be richer than Nwoko?

But, apparently, Nwoko may not have been charmed. He said his boss, while praying for him and thanking him for taking his brother to the hospital in his absence, asked him to kneel down, and preceeded to pour oil on his head. Is his boss a Pastor, or was that a ritual process?

Whatever, Nwoko is apparently in his senses now, for he mentioned the hospital where the surgery for the kidney transplant took place – St Nicholas Hospital, one of the most high profile hospitals in Lagos – and the name of the Surgeon.

Nwoko said he agreed to the deal because he was poor (still is), and thought he had finally found a solution to the poverty ravaging him and his family.

Far from that, however, his situation has worsened. He said his boss only increased his monthly salary to N70,000, and would subtract from it anyday he was too weak to go to work due to the complication which arose from the transplant, and his non-maintainance by his boss at the hospital. He, also, relocated Nwoko to an apartment, and asked him to keep away from family. Worse: Nwoko’s health is pointing downward.

“My boss, Managing Director of a company in Ikeja, in 2018, assigned him me to drive his ailing brother to the St Nicolas hospital, Lagos Island, for dialysis while he (boss) was outside the country.

“When he returned to the country, he appreciated me for taking his brother to the hospital and informed me that his brother’s kidney had failed and that in the next one week , he might lose his life. He asked if I could donate one of my kidneys to him. Thereafter, he told me to kneel down to pray for me and in the process, he rubbed a liquid substance on my head.

“He told me that he would give me 20 million dollars, buy a house for me in America and connect me to his rich friend in America where I would be driving big cars. I was excited.

“Thereafter, he called his brother to inform him that I had agreed to donate one of my kidneys to him. They took me to the hospital, I did many tests and the doctors said my kidney matched his brother’s.

“I was admitted for three days and on the agreed day, the operation was done. They gave me some medicine.

“A week after, my boss rented an apartment for me, he directed me to resume work in the office, and that I would be paid N70,000 a month. He warned that anytime I failed to come to work over health issues, he would deduct N30, 000 from my salary. Even when I complained that I was weak, he would shout at me, saying I could survive with one kidney.

“When I asked Mr Steve to give me the money and other promises he made before the donation, he kept delaying until I told my mother about what happened. All I want is for him to keep to the promise he made before the surgery was done so that I can survive with the remaining kidney I have.

“His brother is very healthy now, while I am dying . I was hungry and from a poor family. I thought giving one of my kidneys in exchange for compensation would change my life and my family’s.”

Said Nwoko’s mother, Gloria, who said he had, for long, been unable to reach him: “I have been wondering why he had not been picking up my calls until October 13, 2023, when he called and told me what happened. We were living together until he suddenly relocated to Mowe, Ogun State.

“At the moment, my son cannot walk. He needs medical help. He has lost so much weight. I am only requesting that Mr Steve should help my son survive like his brother. Yes, we are poor, but I believe the AIG will help us get justice.”

To get justice, the family has retained the services of a Legal Counsel, Tony Dania.

According to Dania, reports say, “when the victim was taken to Saint Nicholas Hospital , his boss’s younger sister whose identity he gave simply as Deborah, acted as the victim’s wife.

After the operation carried out by one Dr Gbagboye, on December 22, 2018, his boss, Steve rented an apartment for him and asked him to stay away from the family.

“A good Samaritan took them to Zone 2 Police Command where some policemen were detailed to arrest his boss.

“We want the Nigeria Police to see this as a test case and do its best. Organ sale is illegal and criminal. The person giving should give consent and there are procedures. Deborah is not the wife of the victim and she signed as one. This is also a case of forgery. A donor’s consent is needed for any surgery.

“In this case, Eric signed a document in an office, he did not read what he signed at Mr Steve’s office and in the hospital. His boss only told him to just say yes, so he did not ask a question. If the consent was obtained by deceit, then the consent cannot hold”