Aniefiok Christopher
The management of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) has faulted medical report brought to the hospital for authentication by operatives of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
EFCC operatives were said to have assaulted, harassed and arrested some personnel in the hospital due to altercation between them and UUTH staffers.
Speaking during a Press Conference on Wednesday, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Prof. EmemAbasi Bassey, said “When the file was eventually retrieved, we discovered that some persons had opened a fake folder with no proper hospital documentation attached to it. The medical report being circulated did not originate from the official records of this hospital,” he explained.
He alleged that there might have been a collaboration between external actors and some individuals within the system, stressing that investigations should focus on how the fake medical report was obtained.
Also read: NMA Strike Looms over alleged Assault on its Members by EFCC in Akwa Ibom
“We have seen several fake medical reports purportedly issued by this hospital in the past. The EFCC and the police should investigate how the lawyer involved obtained that document because there may be insiders collaborating with outsiders,” he added.
Prof. Bassey explained that the matter began with a letter dated 20th April 2026 from the EFCC, requesting authentication of a medical report belonging to a suspect.
He said the hospital received the letter on 21st April and immediately forwarded it to the appropriate department for action.
He, however, stated that a letter reportedly issued to the hospital on the same account written on 11th March was never received by the hospital.
The CMD further explained that delays encountered during the process were administrative and procedural, adding that officials later discovered that the medical report in question was fake.
“I stand here to state clearly that the only letter we officially received was the one dated 20th April. Immediately it arrived, it was minuted to the appropriate office for necessary action,” he said.
He used the occasion to clarify circumstances surrounding the incident involving operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) within the hospital premises on Tuesday, 12th May 2026, insisting that several narratives circulating on social media misrepresented the situation.
According to him, the hospital was not at war with the EFCC and maintained that the institution enjoys a cordial relationship with both the anti-graft agency and the Nigeria Police Force.
“UUTH is a federal government institution and the only publicly accessible tertiary hospital in Akwa Ibom State. We serve as a place of last resort for millions of citizens. Every day, between 600 and 800 patients come here for treatment. It is unfortunate that the hospital has been partially shut down because of this incident.”
He lamented the spread of misinformation surrounding the development, explaining that the management had initially refrained from making public comments in order to handle the matter professionally.
“A lot of false narratives have flooded the social media. Unfortunately, bad news spreads quickly. That is why it has become necessary for us to set the records straight,” he stated.
Prof. Bassey also denied reports that EFCC operatives came to arrest him or other top management staff of the hospital.
“At no point did they come looking for the CMD, the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee or the Director of Administration. They went directly to the office of the doctor handling the authentication process,” he said.
According to him, the doctor had already prepared a draft report confirming that the medical document under investigation was not authentic before the operatives arrived.
The CMD condemned the manner in which the operation was allegedly carried out, insisting that proper procedures were not followed.
“When security agencies enter a federal institution like this, they should first notify management and state their mission. There are rules of engagement. Hospitals are sensitive environments and should be treated with caution,” he stated.
He said the situation escalated after staff members allegedly challenged the operatives for failing to properly identify themselves and for attempting to arrest a senior medical officer without presenting a warrant.
“There was confusion because people saw armed men dragging a professor out of his office. Staff became agitated. The matter degenerated into chaos that could have been avoided,” he added.
Prof. Bassey stated that he immediately contacted the Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom State after receiving reports of unidentified armed men within the hospital premises.
“The Commissioner of Police responded promptly and said he would send officers to the hospital. At that point, I did not even know they were EFCC operatives,” he said.
He noted that the situation later deteriorated, with reports of tear gas, gunshots and destruction within the hospital environment.
“What happened did not have to escalate to this level. If proper procedures had been followed, hundreds of patients would not be suffering today,” he lamented.
The CMD revealed that he later visited the EFCC office where detained staff members were eventually released after discussions with senior officials of the commission.
“When I got there, the senior officers treated me courteously. We had fruitful discussions and my staffers were eventually released.
Unfortunately, the damage had already been done because of the social media narratives,” he said.
Also speaking, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, said he resumed duty on Monday after an official assignment outside the state and immediately continued the process of verifying the controversial medical report.
“When I resumed on Monday, I combined the responsibility of verifying the medical report with my clinical duties and teaching engagements. I even invited the Head of Internal Medicine Department to review the diagnosis contained in the report,” he explained.
He further reported that he was harassed and unjustly arrested by EFCC operatives during the operation.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the workers’ union at the hospital denied reports that workers had embarked on strike action.
The Chairman of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Senior Staff Association within the hospital, Comrade Akanubong Asuquo, clarified that workers only suspended duties temporarily because of safety concerns.
“We are not on strike. We only suspended duties for the sake of our safety,” he said.
The hospital management appealed to the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information capable of worsening the situation. It also assured residents that health personnel had been deployed to critical units, including the Emergency Unit, Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Baby Unit, to ensure that patients continued receiving essential medical attention.
