EFCC UUTH arrest clash sparks outrage as professor alleges assault during fake medical report investigation at UUTH in Uyo
A Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of harassment and assault during an attempted arrest over an alleged fake medical report in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday.
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Prof. Ekpe, who also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee at the hospital, made the allegation during a press briefing where he detailed what he described as a violent confrontation between EFCC operatives and hospital staff.
The professor claimed the incident escalated after EFCC officials visited his office to verify a medical report linked to an ongoing investigation, before returning with armed reinforcements and attempting to arrest him.
He said he had been assigned to review the document after resuming duty, adding that preliminary checks by the Internal Medicine Department suggested the report was not issued by the hospital.
According to him, a draft response prepared for the EFCC confirmed that the document was not authentic, but had not yet been formally approved by hospital management.
Prof. Ekpe alleged that operatives later returned and forcibly attempted to arrest him despite his explanation that he neither authored nor signed the report.
He further claimed that hospital workers intervened, leading to a confrontation that disrupted normal activities within the facility.
“They dragged me to the walkway, and I started crying. Staff members rushed out,” he alleged.
The professor also alleged that armed operatives restricted communication and used force during the arrest attempt, describing the incident as traumatising for staff and patients.
In a separate briefing, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, confirmed that Prof. Ekpe and four other staff members were arrested without prior notice to hospital management.
He insisted the medical report under investigation was fake and suggested possible internal complicity in its creation.
“One of the things we must get to the bottom of is how the lawyer handling the case got the fake medical report,” he said.
The CMD also criticised the conduct of the operatives, stating that they did not follow established protocols for engagement with hospital authorities.
He said the situation escalated after armed and masked men allegedly returned to the hospital premises, causing panic among staff and patients.
According to him, the hospital immediately contacted the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, which later confirmed that the operatives were EFCC officials.
In its response, the EFCC defended its actions, stating that its operatives visited the hospital to verify a medical report submitted in an ongoing criminal trial.
The commission alleged that its officers were obstructed and attacked by hospital staff, insisting that the operation was lawful and professionally conducted.
Meanwhile, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors at UUTH condemned the incident and demanded disciplinary action, compensation for injured workers, and public apologies.
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The associations also said industrial action would continue until their demands were addressed, deepening tensions between medical personnel and anti-graft authorities.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
