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Accuses Hospital Staff of Assault on Personnel
- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has claimed responsibility of raid on the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) Teaching Hospital.
NPO Reported that masked security personnel had in the early hours of Tuesday stormed the hospital, sparking fear among medical staff and visitors.
They allegedly headed straight to the office of the Deputy Chief Medical Director dragging out the senior official and assaulting him.
According to a post shared on X, some staff who attempted to intervene were allegedly beaten with the personnel threatening to shoot anyone who further intervened.
Video attached to the post showed medical staff and visitors loitering outside the hospital as the security personnel ordered the closure of the gate.
Reacting to the development in a post shared on its X handle, the EFCC identified the personnel as its operatives attached to the Uyo Zonal Directorate.
The commission disclosed that the personnel stormed the hospital to authenticate a medical report of a suspect in an ongoing trial over multiple fraud.
The suspect was said to have present the report allegedly issued by the hospital before the court.
EFCC claimed to have written two different letters to the hospital’s management but received no response.
“The Tuesday, May 12, 2026, visit of operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State was informed by the need to authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect under remand by Justice M.A Onyetunu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, for allegedly defrauding multiple micro finance banks, including University of Uyo Micro Finance Bank.
“The suspect had presented a medical report which required authentication by the UUTH management.
“The Commission wrote two different letters, dated March 11, 2026 and April 20, 2026, to the hospital management to this effect without receiving any response.
“The Investigating Officer handling the matter took the further step of visiting the hospital to enquire about the status of the request. Still, no response.” The commission wrote.
EFCC described its raid on the hospital today as a last resort following the management’s failure to respond to its letters.
As against claims of locking the hospital gate and assaulting its staff, the commission alleged that the Chief Medical Doctor of the hospital ordered the closure of the gate following the arrival of the personnel.
EFCC further alleged that its personnel were assaulted by the staff of the hospital who were locked in until the intervention of the Akwa-Ibom Police Command.
“As a last resort, operatives of the Commission visited the Chief Medical Director of the hospital on Tuesday to make further enquiries, only to be locked in with a false alarm and subjected to unprovoked attack by misguided staff of the facility who pelted them with stones and other dangerous objects.
“While within the hospital, the CMD reportedly directed that gates of the facility be shut, making it impossible for any lawful enquiry to be made.
“Police authorities in Akwa Ibom State advised the CMD to open the hospital gates to enable the operatives exit the premises peacefully but the entreaties were turned down.” The commission wrote.
EFCC claimed that the personnel carried out their duties without any breakdown of law and order despite the hostility of the hospital management.
“In spite of the hostility and provocation, there was no breakdown of law and order as the operatives exercised restraint and professionally made their ways out of the hospital premises without disrupting its activities.
“Enquiries bordering on operational engagements of the Commission are lawful.
“It is therefore necessary to remind the public and corporate bodies that they are obligated to cooperate with the agency in such circumstances.
“Contrary action could be deemed as obstruction, which is criminal with attendant legal consequences.” The statement read further.
