The Nigerian Medical Association has commenced an immediate and indefinite strike across Akwa Ibom State following the alleged assault, arrest, and detention of medical personnel at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency virtual meeting held on Tuesday, the Association alleged that Professor Eyo Ekpe, Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of UUTH and a Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, was assaulted and forcefully taken into custody by masked EFCC operatives within the hospital premises.
The NMA further alleged that other doctors and hospital staff who attempted to intervene were also arrested, while gunshots were reportedly fired within the hospital environment. The Association claimed that phones belonging to individuals recording the incident were confiscated.
The communiqué, jointly signed by the Chairman of the NMA in Akwa Ibom State, Professor Aniekan Peter, and the Secretary, Dr. Ighorodje Edesiri, also alleged that the state NMA chairman was shoved and exposed to teargas while seeking clarification from the operatives.
The Association maintained that no formal invitation had been extended to Professor Eyo Ekpe or the NMA leadership before the incident, adding that there had been repeated cases of harassment and assault of medical professionals by security agencies in the state.
The NMA said it would institute legal action against the EFCC and is demanding one billion naira in damages over what it described as physical, emotional, professional, and institutional harm caused by the incident.
However, the EFCC has denied the allegations.
In a statement signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the Commission explained that its operatives visited UUTH to authenticate a medical report presented by a suspect currently facing trial before Justice M.A. Onyetunu of the Federal High Court in Uyo over alleged fraud involving several microfinance banks, including the University of Uyo Microfinance Bank.
The EFCC stated that previous letters sent to the hospital management requesting verification of the medical report did not receive any response, prompting the visit by operatives.
Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has also distanced itself from the incident.
In a rebuttal signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the Command described reports linking the police to the alleged assault as false and misleading.
The Police said officers were only deployed to the hospital after receiving a distress call from the hospital management over the presence of unidentified armed men within the premises, and clarified that the operation was carried out solely by EFCC operatives.
