Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Professor Ememabasi Bassey and Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede.
The management of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, has raised concerns over what it described as the invasion of the hospital by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, leading to the arrest of a senior medical professor and four other staff members.
Speaking during a press conference in Uyo, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, alleged that EFCC operatives stormed the facility on Tuesday without prior notice to the hospital management or presentation of a warrant.
According to him, the operatives arrested Professor Eyo Ekpe, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, alongside four other workers in connection with an investigation involving an alleged fake medical report.
Professor Bassey disclosed that preliminary findings by the hospital indicated that the medical report being investigated did not originate from the institution. He explained that the document was issued on an outdated UUTH letterhead, adding that fake hospital documents have become increasingly common outside the facility.
The CMD further alleged that there may have been collaboration between external individuals and some insiders within the hospital to produce fraudulent medical documents, stressing that investigations should focus on identifying those responsible.
He maintained that while the incident was unfortunate, it should not be used to discredit the EFCC as an institution, noting that the anti-graft agency plays a vital role in combating corruption and financial crimes in the country.
However, he condemned the conduct of the operatives involved in the incident, describing the operation as disruptive and avoidable, especially within a critical healthcare facility handling hundreds of patients daily.
Professor Bassey lamented that the confrontation between the operatives and hospital workers triggered tension within the facility, forcing a temporary shutdown of services and prompting medical doctors to commence an indefinite strike.
According to him, the teaching hospital attends to between 600 and 800 patients every day and operates nearly 600 bed spaces, making the disruption a serious concern for healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom State and neighbouring communities.
The CMD also stated that the hospital has consistently cooperated with security agencies in past investigations, revealing that over 20 members of staff had recently honoured police invitations in another matter with the support of the hospital management.
He appealed for calm and urged all parties involved to work towards a peaceful resolution in order to restore normal medical services at the hospital as quickly as possible.
