EFCC denies assault and arrest allegations in UUTH incident

By Enitan Abdultawab

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied claims that its officers assaulted or detained staff during a recent visit to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), stating that the operation was purely administrative.

In a statement released on Friday evening via its official X page after public backlash, the anti‑graft agency clarified that EFCC operatives from the Uyo Zonal Directorate were present at the hospital on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 only to authenticate a document, not to conduct an arrest operation.

“The presence of the Commission’s operatives in the facility on Tuesday, 12 May 2026 was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect arrest,” the EFCC said.

The commission also rejected online reports that doctors and hospital staff were arrested during the visit.

“Contrary to the information making the rounds, no arrests were made and the staff of the hospital that followed our operatives to the Zonal Command were not detained,” the statement added.

These clarifications came after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) condemned the incident, accusing EFCC officers of invading the hospital, assaulting health workers and intimidating medical personnel.

The NMA alleged that the operation targeted the hospital’s Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, because of delays in authenticating a medical report concerning a suspect in EFCC custody.

Responding to the accusations of brutality, the commission said it had not found any evidence of physical harm or injuries to the staff involved, but it has ordered an internal investigation into the matter.

“The Commission is outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital. Even though we have not seen any physical evidence of such brutality in terms of bodily harm or injury to anyone, including to the staff members who addressed the media on this issue, the Commission as a responsible organisation, has ordered an investigation into the incident,” the agency stated.

It further assured that any operative found to have violated operational procedures would face disciplinary action.

“While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff of the Commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the Agency, will not be spared,” the EFCC added.

The commission also urged the public not to allow the situation to be used to undermine anti‑corruption efforts in the country.

“The May 12th incident was an aberration and should not be allowed to be exploited by some fifth columnists to undermine the fight against corruption in Nigeria,” the statement said.

The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the rights of Nigerians while carrying out its mandate.

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