Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has shut all public hospitals in Akwa Ibom State following invasion by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH).
It was gathered that EFCC operatives stormed UUTH in the early hours of yesterday in masks but were not allowed entry into the hospital premises by the hospital’s security men.
Witness said the EFCC, with the help of police, forced their way into the hospital and went straight to arrest the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Prof. Effiong Ekpe, but staff intervened, insisting that the senior doctor should not be whisked away like a common criminal for whatever reason.
He said EFCC operatives opened fire, beat everybody and shot teargas, causing all doctors, nurses and some patients to scamper for safety.
Public Relations Officer of Akwa Ibom State NMA, Gabriel Eyo, condemned the actions of the EFCC, adding that the Association had ordered all doctors, nurses and other paramedical workers to embark on an indefinite strike across all public hospitals in the state. “The man they came to arrest is a professor of cardiothoracic surgery, the only one we have in Akwa Ibom State.”
Eyo said although the association did not know his offence, it was wrong for the EFCC to arrest the professor like a common thief.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has said the presence of its operatives from the Uyo Zonal Directorate at the UUTH was informed by the need to authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect under remand by Justice M.A Onyetunu of the Federal High Court, Uyo, for allegedly defrauding multiple micro finance banks, including University of Uyo Micro Finance Bank.
According to the EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, the suspect had presented a medical report, which required authentication by the UUTH management.
“The Commission wrote two different letters, dated March 11 and April 20, to the hospital’s management to this effect without receiving any response.
“The Investigating Officer handling the matter took further steps by visiting the hospital to enquire about the status of the request. Still, no response.
“As a last resort, operatives of the Commission visited the Chief Medical Director of the hospital yesterday to make further enquiries, only to be locked under a false alarm and subjected to unprovoked attack by misguided staff of the facility, who pelted them with stones and other dangerous objects.”
He added that while within the hospital, the CMD reportedly directed that gates of the facility be shut, making it impossible for any lawful enquiry to be made.
“Police authorities in Akwa Ibom State advised the CMD to open the hospital gates to enable the operatives exit the premises peacefully but the entreaties were turned down.”
In spite of the hostility and provocation, he said, there was no breakdown of law and order as operatives exercised restraint and professionally made their ways out of the hospital premises without disrupting its activities.
“Enquiries bordering on operational engagements of the Commission are lawful. It is, therefore, necessary to remind the public and corporate bodies that they are obligated to cooperate with the agency in such circumstances.
“Contrary action could be deemed as obstruction, which is criminal with attendant legal consequences,” the commission warned.
Reacting to the incident, Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, said its officers were not involved in the invasion of the medical facility in the state
In a telephone interview, the police commissioner said his men were responding to a distress call by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the UUTH, who called the command to complain that masked men had invaded the hospital.
“The EFCC went for an arrest in the hospital this morning and the CMD called me to verify if my men were among those in the hospital.
“I said, ok, let me send my policemen to the place. So, I sent a CSP to go and verify. He verified them to be EFCC personnel. He called to let me know that it is EFCC personnel that are in the hospital.