Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the conduct of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission during a controversial operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State.
Obi, in a statement shared on his social media page, described the use of teargas within the hospital premises as “a thoughtless act,” warning that such actions endangered patients, medical personnel and healthcare services.
The incident, which occurred earlier this week, involved the arrest of Professor Eyo Ekpe, a professor of cardiothoracic surgery and Deputy Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee.
According to reports, EFCC operatives stormed the hospital in what witnesses described as a “commando-style” operation, allegedly firing teargas and causing panic within the facility. Videos from the scene reportedly showed patients, nurses and other hospital workers running for safety as medical activities were disrupted.
Professor Ekpe later narrated that he was “dragged out” of his office while attempting to process an official response to an EFCC inquiry concerning a disputed medical report linked to a suspect under investigation.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom chapter, subsequently threatened a N1 billion lawsuit against the EFCC, alleging that the professor and other hospital staff were assaulted during the operation. The association described the raid as “barbaric, degrading, inhuman and a gross violation of the sanctity of the hospital environment.”
The Chief Medical Director of UUTH, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, also confirmed that the hospital was thrown into chaos following the incident, which reportedly forced medical workers to abandon wards and disrupted healthcare services. He stated that the medical report the EFCC came to verify was eventually discovered to be fake.
Reacting to the development, Obi said no circumstance justified the deployment of teargas in a hospital environment.
“The disorderliness allegedly demonstrated by the EFCC operatives at the hospital must not be encouraged. Nothing justifies the use of teargas canisters in a fragile hospital environment,” he stated.
He added that the treatment of a senior medical specialist in such a manner sends the wrong message to healthcare professionals already working under difficult conditions in Nigeria.
“If a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery is arrested in such a demeaning manner in a hospital environment, what signals are we sending to other medical professionals working hard to keep our health sector afloat?” Obi asked.
The former Anambra State governor further stressed the need for civility and respect for the rule of law in the discharge of public duties, urging authorities to avoid what he described as “rascality and disorderliness” in public institutions.