Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were allegedly attacked and locked inside the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) on Tuesday while trying to verify a medical report submitted by a fraud suspect.
According to the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal Directorate, the visit was to authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect currently on remand before Justice M.A Onyetunu of the Federal High Court, Uyo. The suspect is accused of defrauding multiple microfinance banks, including the University of Uyo Microfinance Bank.
The Commission said it had written to UUTH management twice — on March 11 and April 20, 2026 — requesting authentication of the report but received no response. When an investigating officer visited the hospital to follow up, the request was still not addressed.
On Tuesday, EFCC operatives met with the hospital’s Chief Medical Director for further enquiries. The Commission alleged that staff of the facility pelted them with stones and other objects after a false alarm was raised, while the CMD ordered the hospital gates shut, preventing the operatives from leaving.
Police authorities in Akwa Ibom reportedly intervened and urged the CMD to open the gates, but the request was ignored. Despite the confrontation, the EFCC said its operatives exercised restraint and exited the premises without disrupting hospital activities or causing a breakdown of law and order.
The Commission described enquiries related to its operations as lawful and warned that refusal to cooperate could amount to obstruction, which is a criminal offence with legal consequences.
