The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed allegations that its operatives brutalised staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa-Ibom State, during a recent visit to the facility.
The anti-graft agency said the recent visit to the hospital by its operatives was purely administrative, insisting that no single individual was arrested contrary to the claims being made by some persons, reports Daily Trust.
Recall that there was panic last Tuesday at the UUTH when the operatives of the EFCC raided the facility.
The operation reportedly resulted in the arrest of Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery and deputy chairman of the hospital’s medical advisory committee.
But the EFCC maintained that nobody was arrested other than asking the hospital to help it authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect who was remanded for allegedly defrauding multiple micro finance banks, including University of Uyo Micro Finance Bank.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a fresh statement today, challenged the hospital and others making the allegations to provide evidence showing the staff were brutalised.
He said, “EFCC Sets the Record Straight on UUTH Incident.
“Following the impassioned reaction of Nigerians to a recent incident at the Uyo University Teaching Hospital, UUTH, involving operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Commission and some staff of the hospital, the Commission is constrained to issue further clarification concerning the episode.
“The presence of the Commission’s Operatives in the facility on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect arrest.
“Contrary to the information making the rounds, no arrests were made and the staff of the hospital that followed our operatives to the Zonal Command were not detained.
“The Commission is outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital.
“Even though we have not seen any physical evidence of such brutality in terms of bodily harm or injury to anyone, including to the staff members who addressed the media on this issue, the Commission as a responsible organisation, has ordered an investigation into the incident.
“While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff of the Commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the Agency, will not be spared.
“The Commission acknowledges stakeholders who have shown concern in the amicable resolution of the issue and, once again, reassures the public, including medical staff of the UUTH, that the May 12th incident was an aberration and should not be allowed to be exploited by some fifth columnists to undermine the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
“The EFCC recognises the rights of every Nigerian and will continue to pursue its mandate without distraction or encroachment on the inalienable right of anyone.”
