The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has ordered a full investigation into a confrontation between its operatives and staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), which reportedly resulted in the alleged assault of a senior cardiologist, Professor Eyo Ekpe.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, May 12, sparked outrage among medical workers, leading to an indefinite strike by doctors and other health professionals. The Chief Medical Director of UUTH, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, has appealed to union leaders to suspend the strike and return to work, citing concerns for critically ill patients.
In a statement issued on Friday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the commission was disturbed by the allegations of brutality, although it had not yet received clear physical evidence of injuries sustained by any hospital staff.
He assured that any operative found to have acted outside the agency’s Standard Operating Procedures would face disciplinary action, pending the outcome of the investigation.
Oyewale also called for calm and praised stakeholders who intervened to prevent escalation of the situation, warning against attempts by individuals to exploit the incident to undermine Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
He explained that the EFCC operatives visited the UUTH on May 12, 2026, strictly for administrative purposes to verify a document, and not for an arrest operation. According to him, no arrests were made, and hospital staff who accompanied the operatives to the zonal office were not detained.
He reiterated that the commission remains committed to accountability and would not hesitate to sanction any staff member found culpable after the investigation.
Backstory…
The incident began when operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission reportedly visited the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) on May 12, 2026, for what the agency described as an administrative task involving document verification, not an arrest operation.
During the visit, a confrontation allegedly broke out between EFCC personnel and hospital staff, which led to claims that a senior cardiologist, Professor Eyo Ekpe, was assaulted. The situation quickly escalated and sparked public outrage within the medical community.
In response, doctors and other health workers at UUTH launched an indefinite strike in protest of the alleged assault, demanding accountability and justice for their colleague.
The EFCC, however, denied claims of wrongdoing at the time, insisting no arrests were made and that its operatives acted within administrative limits. The agency later ordered a formal investigation to clarify what happened and determine if any staff violated official procedures.
The issue has since drawn attention due to its impact on hospital operations and the broader concerns about conduct during enforcement activities.
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