UUTH closed as EFCC attempts to arrest staff

Activities at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) in Akwa Ibom State were halted on Tuesday, May 12, after EFCC operatives from the Uyo Zonal Office attempted to arrest, and subsequently arrested, Prof. Effiong Ekpe and three other hospital staff members.

According to reports, EFCC officials moved to detain Prof. Ekpe—who serves as Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC)—under a court warrant. Their effort was met with resistance from other hospital staff, and security personnel locked the main gate, preventing the officers from leaving the premises.

The operatives called for additional support as tensions rose, and police arrived shortly thereafter.

Following the incident, Dr. Aniekan Peters, State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), instructed doctors across the state to suspend services immediately. Leaders of the Joint Hospital Employees’ Union (JOHESU) also announced a total shutdown of the hospital, describing the episode as an inhumane and barbaric act.

Dr. Gabriel Eyo, Public Relations Officer of the NMA, confirmed the events and characterized the EFCC’s actions as an onslaught on the hospital and its workers.

Eyo noted that it was improper for a professor of cardiothoracic surgery—the only one in the state—to be treated as a criminal, adding that Prof. Ekpe sustained injuries during the incident. The strike was therefore launched to protest the perceived injustice.

“Prof. Ekpe is the professor of cardiothoracic surgery, the only one we have in Akwa Ibom State. Anyway, we don’t know what he has done, but we don’t really care at this point. Whatever he did, there is due process for this kind of thing. Even criminals are not treated this way. The only thing that should have been done would have been to send an invitation, which was not done,” said Eyo.

“The NMA just had a meeting of its members, so we’ve begun the indefinite strike. The resolutions will be made public very soon.”

The police have clarified that they were not involved in the arrest itself; their officers were only deployed to the scene to calm the situation and verify the identity of the officials conducting the arrest.

Commissioner of Police CP Baba Mohammed Azare stated that he ordered a contingent of policemen to accompany the EFCC officials in order to apprehend a hospital staff member, acting on a directive from a judge in an ongoing court case.

Azare added that, prior to the police entering the hospital, he informed the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Emem Bassey, and asked him to instruct his staff to allow the officers access to the premises.

“The EFCC went for an arrest in the hospital this morning