A Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Eyo Ekpe, has accused operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of harassment and assault. The professor, who also serves as the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, alleged that the operatives targeted him during a confrontation regarding an alleged fake medical report.
Ekpe narrated the ordeal at a press conference on Wednesday, explaining that he had just resumed work after an official trip when he was assigned to verify the document. He stated, "I added the responsibility of handling the medical report to my clinical duties, supervision of resident doctors and teaching medical students." Upon consulting the Internal Medicine Department, it was discovered that the doctor named in the report was not a staff member.
The professor noted that he prepared a draft response on May 11, 2026, confirming the document was not genuine. He claimed that when he informed the operatives that the response required approval from the Chief Medical Director, they returned with an armed officer and declared him under arrest.
"I told them I did not issue the report, my name was not on it, and it did not come from my unit. But they asked me to explain that at their office," Ekpe said. He further alleged that the operatives dragged him from his office to a walkway as he cried for help. He claimed, "They said I must not talk to anyone. They held guns behind and in front of me while dragging me."
The situation escalated when reinforcement arrived. The professor said, "We were emotionally traumatised. Tear gas was fired, and live bullets were shot." The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Ememabasi Bassey, confirmed that Ekpe and four other workers were arrested without prior notification to the management.
Bassey maintained that the report in question was fraudulent and featured an outdated letterhead. He said, "One of the things we must get to the bottom of is how the lawyer handling the case got the fake medical report. It is possible there are bad eggs within the hospital working with outsiders." The CMD criticised the operatives for bypassing official channels, stating, "At no point did they come to look for the CMD, the CMAC or the Director of Administration. They simply went to his office."
Responding to the allegations, the EFCC stated that its operatives visited the hospital to verify a report submitted by a suspect. The agency claimed that its officers were "locked in and attacked by misguided staff of the facility" and that the management refused to open the gates despite police intervention.
Medical associations at the hospital have condemned the incident and demanded a public apology. They insisted that their ongoing industrial action would continue until their demands for compensation and disciplinary action against the operatives are met.
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