EFCC Apologises to Doctors Over Uyo Hospital Raid
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has issued a formal apology following a chaotic raid by its operatives at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. The commission chairman, Ola Olukoyede, directed the apology to Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery who serves as deputy chairman of the medical advisory committee. The anti-graft agency also extended its regrets to the broader membership of the Nigerian Medical Association. The move represents an uncommon climbdown for the state security apparatus, which usually bristles at public criticism.
The executive apology follows intense pressure from the medical community after the 12 May incident in Akwa Ibom State. Operatives had stormed the tertiary health facility in a tinted bus and saloon cars to verify a medical report. The report belonged to a suspect facing trial over an alleged microfinance bank fraud. The commission claimed it turned to a physical visit after the hospital management ignored two official letters. The operation quickly dissolved into a brawl.
The raid disrupted active clinical services and created widespread panic among patients and healthcare workers. Eyewitness videos showed visitors running for cover after operatives reportedly deployed teargas canisters inside the premises. The medical association accused the agency of dragging the senior surgeon from his office and violating a sterile environment. In response, the local branch of the doctors’ union issued a two-week strike ultimatum. They demanded a written apology and financial compensation for affected staff.
The anti-graft agency initially defended the visit as purely administrative, denying physical evidence of bodily harm. The commission even claimed that hospital workers locked its operatives inside the gates and pelted them with stones. The rapid escalation into a public relations crisis forced a change of strategy in Abuja. Mr Olukoyede has now ordered a full internal investigation into the misconduct. He promised that any officer found guilty would face disciplinary action.
The Uyo incident highlights a structural tension between aggressive law enforcement and public professional bodies. Doctors across Nigeria complain of a growing pattern of harassment by security agencies. This systemic friction risks driving more medical professionals to emigrate. The national medical association has asked President Bola Tinubu to launch a public inquiry. They want federal legislation to designate hospitals as protected zones.
Despite the institutional embarrassment, the commission insists the apology will not weaken its anti-corruption campaign. The agency continues to track suspects who use medical excuses to evade criminal trial. Mr Olukoyede appealed to professional bodies to support the state in fighting financial crimes. For now, the prompt apology has averted an immediate healthcare shutdown in Akwa Ibom. It sets a useful precedent for institutional accountability.