A’Ibom doctors threatens N1bn lawsuit against EFCC over alleged assault on UUTH professor

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Akwa Ibom State chapter, has announced plans to file a N1 billion legal action against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This comes in response to the alleged assault of Professor Eyo Ekpe, a member of the association, during an EFCC raid at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the NMA cited physical, emotional, professional, and institutional damages allegedly sustained by Professor Ekpe and the association during the operation on Tuesday.

According to reports, EFCC operatives stormed the teaching hospital while investigating a fraud case involving a suspect.

The anti-graft agency reportedly said the visit was aimed at verifying a medical report submitted by the suspect as part of its ongoing investigation.

However, the NMA condemned the operation, insisting that the conduct of the operatives during the incident was unacceptable and amounted to harassment of medical personnel within the hospital environment.

The EFCC, in its explanation, said its operatives later visited the Chief Medical Director of the hospital “as a last resort to make further enquiries,” but claimed they were met with resistance, adding that the team eventually withdrew without disrupting hospital activities.

However, the NMA said the operation led to the alleged assault of Professor Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital.

Addressing a press conference in Uyo, the state NMA Chairman, Professor Aniekan Peter, said the decision to approach the court was part of resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the association.

He said, “We observed that Prof Eyo Ekpe was apprehended within the premises of UUTH by masked EFCC operatives who physically assaulted him, beat him to the point of bleeding, handcuffed him alongside other doctors and hospital staff who attempted to intervene.”

He also alleged that the NMA chairman was affected during the incident, saying, “Professor Peter, Akwa Ibom NMA chairman, was shoved and exposed to teargas when he approached the scene seeking clarification from the operatives.”

The association described the hospital environment as “sacred” and said it should not be subjected to violent operations by security agencies.

It added, “We shall institute a legal action against the EFCC with a demand for damages in the sum of N1bn for the physical, emotional, professional and institutional damages caused.”

The communique, read by Assistant Secretary of the association, Dr Unyime Ndoh, and endorsed by Professor Peter and Secretary Dr Ighorodje Edesiri, said the association would not return to work unless its demands were met.

The demands include an apology to the affected doctors and identification and prosecution of those involved in the operation.

The NMA also said there was no prior formal invitation to Professor Ekpe or its leadership before the incident, describing the raid as “barbaric, degrading, inhuman and a gross violation of the sanctity of the hospital environment.”

The association further said it would not provide medical services to EFCC officials or their relatives until its demands are addressed.