EFCC orders probe into alleged assault of UUTH professor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has ordered an investigation into the altercation between operatives of the commission and the staff of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, which allegedly led to the brutalisation of Professor Eyo Ekpe, a foremost cardiologist in Nigeria.

Doctors and other health workers have embarked on an indefinite strike following the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, May 12, although the Chief Medical Director of UUTH, Prof. Ememabasi Bassey, had appealed to the union leaders to return to work for the sake of critically ill patients.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Friday, said the commission was outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital, even though it was yet to see any physical evidence of such brutality in terms of bodily harm or injury to anyone.

Oyewale assured that while awaiting the outcome of the inquiry, any staff member of the commission found to have deviated from the agency’s Standard Operating Procedure would be sanctioned.

Suing for calm, he commended stakeholders who intervened in the matter for its peaceful resolution, urging that fifth columnists should not be allowed to exploit the situation and undermine the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Giving insight into why operatives of the Uyo Zonal Office visited UUTH, Oyewale said, “The presence of the commission’s operatives in the facility on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect an arrest. Contrary to the information making the rounds, no arrests were made and the staff of the hospital who followed our operatives to the zonal command were not detained.

“However, the commission, as a responsible organisation, has ordered an investigation into the incident. While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff member of the commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the agency will not be spared.”

EFCC orders probe into alleged assault of UUTH professor