EFCC: No evidence of our operatives’ assault of UUTH staff, but we’ll investigate

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said though there is no evidence that its operatives assaulted staff of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) when they visited hospital on Tuesday, it has set up a process for investigation of the claim.

EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Friday in Abuja while insisting that the visit of the operatives of the anti-graft agency to UUTH was purely administrative.

He said that the commission was, therefore, outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital.

Oyewale, however, said that the commission had ordered an investigation into the allegations that the operatives assaulted staff of the hospital during the visit.

“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 however ordered an investigation into the incident, and acknowledges stakeholders, who have shown concern in the amicable resolution of the issue.

” While awaiting the outcome of the inquiry, any staff of the commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the Agency, will not be spared,” he said.

He maintained that the anti-graft agency operatives from the Uyo Zonal Directorate were at the hospital on Tuesday 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 12, 2026, was purely administrative, to facilitate the authentication of a document, rather than a tactical operation to effect arrest.

“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,” he said.

“The agency once again, reassures the public, including medical staff of the UUTH, that the May 12, 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 EFCC recognises the rights of every Nigerian and will continue to pursue its mandate without distraction or encroachment on the inalienable right of anyone.”

(NAN)