By: Theresa Donatus.

The Chief Medical Director of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, has clarified the circumstances surrounding the controversial invasion of the hospital by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, insisting that the hospital was not involved in shielding any suspect under investigation.

Speaking during an emergency press briefing in Uyo on Wednesday, Prof. Bassey disclosed that the medical report at the centre of the EFCC investigation was discovered to be fake after internal verification by the hospital management.

According to him, the anti-graft agency had contacted the hospital to authenticate a medical document allegedly issued on behalf of a suspect being investigated by the commission.

The CMD explained that investigations conducted by the hospital revealed that the report did not originate from the institution and was never officially authorised.

“Some actors working in concert with lawyers or whoever for the suspect had opened a folder with no official footing and written a fake medical report on it,” he stated.

Prof. Bassey further clarified that Prof. Eyo Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, was only mandated to authenticate the document before the situation degenerated into confrontation between hospital workers and EFCC operatives.

He expressed concern over the manner in which the operation was conducted, saying the hospital management was not formally informed before armed operatives stormed the premises.

“All they needed to do was place a phone call to me. This issue did not have to degenerate into violence and fear inside a hospital,” he said.

The CMD disclosed that the incident disrupted medical activities at the tertiary health institution, with several staff members fleeing their duty posts out of fear after operatives allegedly fired tear gas and gunshots into the air.

He lamented that critically ill patients, including newborn babies and emergency cases, were exposed to danger as medical services were temporarily paralysed.

“A hospital is a hallowed ground, comparable only to a place of worship. You do not invade such a place with chaos and intimidation,” he added.

Prof. Bassey also revealed that he personally visited the EFCC office in Uyo and volunteered himself for questioning in an effort to secure the release of detained hospital personnel.

Despite criticising the conduct of the officers involved, the CMD maintained that the EFCC remained a critical institution in Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.

“Without the EFCC, many Nigerians would not even feel safe keeping money in banks. We should not rubbish an institution because of the actions of a few officers,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors, UUTH chapters, condemned the operation and described it as an unprovoked assault on healthcare workers.

The associations accused EFCC operatives of forcefully breaking into offices, assaulting personnel, and creating panic within the hospital environment.

They demanded disciplinary action against officers involved in the operation, the release of detained staff members, and compensation for victims affected by the incident.

The doctors also insisted that the indefinite strike declared at the hospital would remain in force until their demands are addressed.