Obi denounces EFCC's invasion of Uyo hospital, slams deployment of tear gas

Peter Obi, a presidential aspirant, has unequivocally denounced the invasion of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operatives, describing the use of teargas within the premises as a reckless act that put patients and medical staff in harm's way.

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Obi, in a personally signed statement on Thursday, acknowledged the constitutional mandate of the EFCC and other government agencies, but expressed deep concern over the manner in which some duties are executed, which he deemed troubling.

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According to Obi, the EFCC operatives reportedly fired teargas canisters within the hospital, causing medical staff and patients to flee for safety, and greatly compromising the hospital environment's safety, thereby jeopardizing the health of medical personnel and patients.

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On Tuesday, EFCC operatives had stormed the hospital in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in connection with authenticating a medical report submitted by a fraud suspect standing trial at the Federal High Court in Uyo, which led to a violent confrontation.

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The confrontation resulted in the arrest of four staff members, including Professor Effiong Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Council, and the injury of several workers, prompting an indefinite strike by medical doctors at the facility.

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The hospital's Chief Medical Director, Professor Ememabasi Bassey, alleged that the operatives arrived without a warrant, identification, or prior notification to hospital authorities, and revealed that the medical report in question was fake, suggesting potential collusion between hospital insiders and outsiders.

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Obi stated that the incident raised serious concerns about the signals being sent to medical professionals working under difficult conditions to maintain the country's health sector, citing the arrest of a prominent cardiothoracic surgeon as a demeaning example.

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He noted that Nigeria has only 80 cardiothoracic surgeons serving its 230 million people, with Ekpe being the only one in Akwa Ibom State, making his arrest even more consequential, and emphasizing the need to respect the lives and dignity of citizens.

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Obi emphasized that the rule of law is the most fundamental intangible asset for a nation's effective functioning and that the alleged conduct of the operatives must not be condoned, stressing that nothing justifies the use of teargas in a fragile hospital environment.

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He called on public institutions to adopt civility in their duties and shed the rascality and disorderliness that has characterized some of them, saying "Let us condemn and eschew the rascality and disorderliness that have continued to characterize some of our public offices and bring in civility in the discharge of our duties.

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The EFCC has denied invading the hospital, with its head of media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, insisting that its operatives were on an official assignment, while the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria and the Association of Resident Doctors have demanded disciplinary action and a public apology.

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The associations are seeking medical treatment and compensation for injured staff, as well as repair of damaged property, and have stated that the strike will continue until all conditions are met.