The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has explained that the visit by operatives of its Uyo Zonal Directorate to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital on Tuesday was part of efforts to authenticate a medical report submitted by a suspect standing trial for alleged fraud involving several microfinance banks.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission said the suspect is currently under remand by Justice M.A. Onyetunu of the Federal High Court over allegations of defrauding multiple microfinance institutions, including the University of Uyo Microfinance Bank.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspect had presented a medical report which required verification from the hospital management.
The EFCC stated that it had earlier written two separate letters dated March 11 and April 20, 2026, requesting authentication of the report but received no response from the hospital authorities.
The Commission added that the investigating officer handling the case subsequently visited the hospital to enquire about the status of the request, but was still unable to obtain any response.
It explained that operatives later visited the office of the hospital’s Chief Medical Director as a last resort to make further enquiries, but were allegedly locked within the premises and attacked by some members of staff.
“As a last resort, operatives of the Commission visited the Chief Medical Director of the hospital on Tuesday to make further enquiries, only to be locked in with a false alarm and subjected to unprovoked attack by misguided staff of the facility who pelted them with stones and other dangerous objects,” the statement said.
The EFCC further alleged that while the operatives were within the hospital premises, the Chief Medical Director directed that the gates of the facility be shut, preventing the officers from conducting lawful enquiries or exiting the premises freely.
According to the Commission, police authorities in Akwa Ibom State intervened and advised that the gates be opened to allow the operatives leave peacefully, but the request was allegedly ignored.
Despite the confrontation, the Commission maintained that its operatives exercised restraint and exited the premises professionally without disrupting hospital activities.
The anti-corruption agency stressed that enquiries relating to its investigative and operational responsibilities are lawful and urged public institutions and corporate organisations to cooperate with its investigations.
The EFCC warned that any action capable of obstructing its operations could amount to a criminal offence with attendant legal consequences.
