By The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has broken its silence over the controversial incident at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), insisting that its operatives were on a lawful assignment and did not disrupt activities within the facility.
The clarification follows outrage from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which had condemned the alleged assault, arrest and detention of Professor Eyo Ekpe and other medical personnel during the incident at the hospital in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as reported by Afriktimes.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the EFCC said its operatives from the Uyo Zonal Directorate visited UUTH to authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect currently under remand by Justice M.A. Onyetunu of the Federal High Court, Uyo.
According to the Commission, the suspect is being prosecuted for allegedly defrauding several microfinance banks, including the University of Uyo Micro Finance Bank.
The anti-graft agency disclosed that it had earlier written two letters to the hospital management dated March 11 and April 20, 2026, requesting verification of the medical report but received no response.
“The suspect had presented a medical report which required authentication by the UUTH management,” the statement read.
The EFCC stated that after several unsuccessful attempts to obtain clarification through official correspondence, the investigating officer handling the matter visited the hospital to make direct enquiries.
The Commission alleged that its operatives were later trapped within the hospital premises after the gates were shut on the directive of the hospital’s Chief Medical Director.
“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,” the statement added.
The agency maintained that despite the tension, its operatives exercised restraint and exited the premises without disrupting hospital operations.
“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,” the EFCC stated.
The Commission also defended its actions as part of its lawful investigative responsibilities and warned that obstruction of its operations could amount to a criminal offence.
“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,” the statement said.
The incident has continued to generate reactions within the medical community, especially after the NMA vowed to resist what it described as harassment and intimidation of doctors in the course of their duties.
