EFCC Chairman Orders Investigation After Hospital Operation

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said any operative found to have violated professional standards during a May 12 operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital will face internal disciplinary action. The incident involved armed operatives visiting the hospital.

Allegations emerged that they assaulted the Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee and four other hospital workers.

Following a preliminary review, the chairman directed that an official apology be issued. In a statement posted on the commission's X account on Monday, he said the action responded to concerns raised by members of the medical community and the public.

The chairman expressed regret over the incident and said the operatives' conduct did not reflect the standards expected of the agency. He added that a full-scale investigation had been ordered. "Once the exercise is completed, any officer found to have acted outside the acceptable code of professional conduct would be subjected to the internal disciplinary process," the statement read.

The chairman assured stakeholders that the commission would work with relevant institutions to prevent similar incidents. He also appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association and other professional bodies to continue supporting the agency's anti-corruption efforts.

The Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee had accused operatives of harassing and assaulting him and other staff during an attempt to arrest him over an alleged fake medical report. Hospital officials confirmed that the deputy chairman and four other workers were arrested without prior notification to management.

The Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors chapters at the hospital condemned the incident and began industrial action. The associations demanded disciplinary measures against the operatives, compensation for injured workers, public apologies in two national newspapers, and repairs to damaged property.