The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied allegations that its operatives assaulted or arrested staff members during a recent incident at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), insisting that the visit was purely administrative.
In a statement issued on Friday evening on its official X page following public outrage over the episode, the anti-graft agency said its operatives from the Uyo Zonal Directorate were at the hospital on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, solely to authenticate a document and not to carry out an arrest operation.
“The presence of the Commission’s operatives in the facility on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect arrest,” the EFCC stated.
The commission also dismissed reports circulating online that doctors and hospital workers were arrested during the operation.
“Contrary to the information making the rounds, no arrests were made and the staff of the hospital that followed our operatives to the Zonal Command were not detained,” the statement added.
The clarification comes after the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) condemned the incident and accused EFCC operatives of invading the hospital, assaulting health workers, and intimidating medical personnel.
The NMA had alleged that the operation targeted the hospital’s Deputy Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Eyo Ekpe, over delays in authenticating a medical report involving a suspect in EFCC custody.
Reacting to the claims of brutality, the commission said it had not seen any evidence showing physical harm or injuries to affected staff members but had nonetheless ordered an internal investigation into the incident.
“The Commission is outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital. Even though we have not seen any physical evidence of such brutality in terms of bodily harm or injury to anyone, including to the staff members who addressed the media on this issue, the Commission as a responsible organisation, has ordered an investigation into the incident,” the agency stated.
It further assured that any operative found guilty of violating operational procedures would face disciplinary action.
“While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff of the Commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the Agency, will not be spared,” the EFCC added.
The commission also appealed to the public not to allow the situation to be used to undermine anti-corruption efforts in the country.
“The May 12th incident was an aberration and should not be allowed to be exploited by some fifth columnists to undermine the fight against corruption in Nigeria,” the statement said.
The EFCC further reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the rights of Nigerians while carrying out its mandate.