By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied allegations that its operatives assaulted staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) during an incident that sparked public outrage earlier this week.
The anti-graft agency issued the clarification in a statement following widespread reactions to reports that its operatives stormed the hospital and forcefully arrested Professor Eyo Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Deputy Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee.
According to the EFCC, its operatives were at the hospital on May 12 to authenticate a document linked to an ongoing investigation and not to carry out an arrest.
The statement said: “The presence of the Commission’s operatives in the facility was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect arrest,”
The commission also denied detaining any hospital staff, stating that workers who followed its officials to the Uyo Zonal Directorate were not held.
The clarification comes after Professor Ekpe alleged that EFCC officers entered his office, declared him under arrest, and dragged him out while staff members resisted the move.
He said the officers had earlier visited to collect a hospital response to an inquiry concerning a medical report tied to a suspect under investigation.
According to him, he informed the officials that the document required approval from the Chief Medical Director before release, but they later returned with armed reinforcement.
“They started pushing me. They dragged me out of the office,” Ekpe said while addressing journalists on Wednesday.
He further alleged that the situation escalated when additional armed men arrived, forcefully entered the hospital premises, and assaulted some staff.
The EFCC, however, rejected claims of brutality, saying it had not seen evidence of injuries from the incident but had nonetheless ordered an internal investigation.
“The Commission is outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital,” the agency stated.
It added that any official found to have violated operational procedures would face disciplinary action.
The commission described the incident as an “aberration” and urged the public not to allow it to be exploited to discredit anti-corruption efforts in the country.
“The Commission recognises the rights of every Nigerian and will continue to pursue its mandate without distraction or encroachment on the inalienable right of anyone,” it added.
The incident has continued to draw attention from medical professionals and members of the public, with calls for transparency over the circumst
ances surrounding the operation.
categories
recent posts
NIGERIA: Sowore Defends Himself In Court, Seeks Judge’s Recusal In Cybercrime Trial
