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The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Akwa Ibom has threatened to file a N1 billion lawsuit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged assault of Professor Eyo Ekpe during an operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, in Akwa Ibom State.
The association on Wednesday said the planned suit was based on what it described as physical, emotional, professional, and institutional damages suffered during the EFCC operation at the hospital on Tuesday.
It was gathered that EFCC operatives had stormed the UUTH while investigating a fraud case involving a suspect, a move the commission said was to verify a medical report submitted by the suspect.
The EFCC said its operatives later visited the hospital’s Chief Medical Director “as a last resort to make further enquiries,” but claimed they were met with resistance, adding that the team eventually withdrew without disrupting hospital activities.
Although the NMA said the operation led to the alleged assault of Professor Ekpe, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital. While speaking at a press conference in Uyo, the state NMA Chairman, Professor Aniekan Peter, said the decision to approach the court was part of resolutions reached at an emergency meeting of the association.
He said, “We observed that Prof Eyo Ekpe was apprehended within the premises of UUTH by masked EFCC operatives who physically assaulted him, beat him to the point of bleeding, handcuffed him alongside other doctors and hospital staff who attempted to intervene.”
He also alleged that the NMA chairman was affected during the incident, saying, “Professor Peter, Akwa Ibom NMA chairman, was shoved and exposed to teargas when he approached the scene seeking clarification from the operatives.”
The association described the hospital environment as “sacred” and said it should not be subjected to violent operations by security agencies.
It stated, “We shall institute a legal action against the EFCC with a demand for damages in the sum of N1bn for the physical, emotional, professional and institutional damages caused.”
The communique, which was read by Assistant Secretary of the association, Dr Unyime Ndoh, and endorsed by Professor Peter and Secretary Dr Ighorodje Edesiri, said the association would not return to work unless its demands were met.
The demands include an apology to the affected doctors and identification and prosecution of those involved in the operation. The NMA also said there was no prior formal invitation to Professor Ekpe or its leadership before the incident, describing the raid as “barbaric, degrading, inhuman and a gross violation of the sanctity of the hospital environment.”
In addition, the association said it will not provide medical services to EFCC officials or their relatives until its demands are met.
