A Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of assaulting and harassing him and several hospital workers during an attempt to arrest him over an alleged fake medical report.
Speaking during a press conference on Wednesday, the professor, who also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital, narrated how the incident unfolded and alleged that the operatives used excessive force while carrying out their operation within the hospital premises.
Ekpe explained that he had only recently resumed official duties after receiving approval to travel outside Akwa Ibom State when he was directed to handle a request from the anti-graft agency concerning the verification of a medical report submitted in an ongoing case.
According to him, after examining the document, he noticed that the medical condition stated in the report fell under the Department of Internal Medicine, prompting him to invite the Head of Department for proper verification.
He stated that after a thorough review, the department discovered that the doctor whose name appeared on the document was not a recognised staff member of the hospital. Further checks, he said, confirmed that the report did not originate from the institution.
Ekpe added that he subsequently prepared a draft response confirming that the report was fake and awaiting official approval and endorsement from the Chief Medical Director before it could be formally released to the EFCC.
He alleged that operatives of the commission initially visited his office to collect the response, but after being informed that the document was still undergoing administrative approval, they later returned with armed personnel and informed him that he was under arrest.
The professor insisted that he had no connection with the alleged forged report, stressing that neither his name nor his department was linked to the document under investigation.
According to him, despite explaining the situation to the operatives, they allegedly refused to listen and attempted to forcefully remove him from his office.
Ekpe claimed that the officers dragged him into the hospital walkway while preventing him from speaking with colleagues or making phone calls. He further alleged that armed officers surrounded him while trying to take him away.
The situation reportedly attracted the attention of hospital workers who rushed to the scene after hearing cries for help. The workers allegedly resisted the arrest, leading to heightened tension within the hospital premises.
Ekpe further alleged that the operatives later returned with more armed and masked personnel, creating panic among staff members and patients within the facility.
He claimed that tear gas was fired during the confrontation while gunshots were allegedly fired into the air to disperse workers gathered at the scene.
According to him, several hospital workers sustained injuries during the incident, while others were emotionally traumatised by the development.
Also speaking on the matter, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, confirmed that Ekpe and four other staff members were arrested without prior notification to the hospital management.
Bassey maintained that the medical report under investigation was fake, noting that the letterhead used for the document was outdated and did not originate from the hospital.
He suggested that individuals outside the hospital might have collaborated with insiders to produce the forged report, adding that management had been investigating the source of the document.
The CMD also denied allegations that the hospital ignored earlier correspondence from the EFCC, explaining that the institution only received one official letter dated April 21, 2026.
He said the verification process experienced slight delays due to weekends, public holidays and Ekpe’s participation in national postgraduate medical examinations outside the state.
According to Bassey, Ekpe completed the authentication process immediately after returning to work and had already prepared a draft confirming that the report was not genuine.
The CMD criticised the manner in which the operation was carried out, alleging that the operatives entered the hospital and proceeded directly to Ekpe’s office without first informing the hospital management or presenting any arrest warrant.
He added that the arrival of armed and hooded operatives created fear among staff and disrupted activities within the hospital environment.
Bassey disclosed that after receiving distress calls, he contacted the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, who advised the hospital management to secure the premises pending clarification of the situation.
He said that although the police later confirmed that the men were EFCC operatives and advised that the gates be reopened, tensions had already escalated following the use of tear gas and force within the facility.
Meanwhile, the EFCC defended the actions of its operatives, stating that officials visited the hospital as part of efforts to verify a medical report submitted by a suspect currently standing trial.
The commission also claimed that previous letters sent to the hospital had not received satisfactory responses, prompting the visit by its operatives.
According to the agency, the operatives were allegedly attacked and locked inside the premises by some hospital workers during the exercise.
The commission maintained that its personnel acted professionally throughout the operation and denied allegations that hospital activities were deliberately disrupted.
Following the incident, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors, UUTH chapters, strongly condemned the confrontation and demanded disciplinary action against the operatives involved.
The associations also called for compensation and medical treatment for injured workers, public apologies and repairs of damaged property within the hospital.
They further stated that the industrial action embarked upon by doctors at the hospital would continue until their demands are addressed.
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