Ekiti State authorities dismiss lead surgeon and pledge full support for victim Joshua Afolayan following negligence probe.
Ekiti State Government swiftly dismissed a lead surgeon from the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) after an independent panel confirmed severe professional negligence in a surgery that removed both kidneys from a 39-year-old teacher.
Joshua Afolayan, a public school teacher, suffered a road accident in August 2025. Scans revealed damage to his right kidney, while his left kidney functioned normally.
He consented only to removal of the damaged organ.However, surgeons excised both kidneys during the October procedure, leaving Afolayan unable to produce urine and dependent on costly dialysis sessions amid chronic pain.
Afolayan publicly accused the hospital of unauthorized removal and potential organ harvesting.
Public outcry prompted Governor Biodun Oyebanji to form a seven-member panel, chaired by Professor Francis Faduyile, on December 8.
The panel submitted its report on December 18.
Investigators ruled out organ harvesting for sale or rituals, attributing the error to a grave surgical complication.
Consequently, authorities immediately terminated the lead surgeon’s employment.
They also suspended the entire surgical team present in the operating theatre for one month pending further review.
Moreover, the state committed to covering the full cost of a kidney transplant for Afolayan, including two years of post-operative care and medication.
Health Commissioner Dr. Oyebanji Filani announced the decisions on December 19, emphasizing reforms to bolster patient safety and clinical governance at EKSUTH.
In addition, officials plan a comprehensive reorganization of relevant departments to prevent future incidents.
Filani reaffirmed the government’s dedication to ethical standards and public trust in healthcare, while praising the dedication of most EKSUTH staff.
Afolayan’s case highlights vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s public health system, where medical errors can devastate lives.
Yet the rapid investigation and compensatory measures offer hope for his recovery and signal stronger accountability in Ekiti’s medical practices.
