The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has defended the conduct of its operatives during a controversial operation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), insisting that the exercise was not a raid.
The anti-graft agency, however, stopped short of apologising over the incident which sparked outrage among medical workers and members of the public.
In a statement issued on Friday, the EFCC said operatives from its Uyo zonal directorate visited the hospital on May 12 for an administrative assignment involving the authentication of a document.
The commission said the operation was not intended to effect arrests and also denied allegations that its operatives brutalised hospital staff during the incident, despite pictorial evidence.
“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. The Commission is outraged by the allegations of brutalisation of staff of the hospital.
“Even though 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 ordered an investigation into the incident,” the EFCC said.
The anti-graft agency said officers found to have breached its standard operating procedures would face disciplinary action.
“While awaiting the outcome of this inquiry, any staff of the Commission found to have deviated from the Standard Operating Procedure of the Agency, will not be spared,” the statement reads.
The EFCC described the May 12 incident as an aberration and warned against attempts to use the controversy to undermine the anti-corruption campaign in the country.
“The EFCC recognizes the rights of every Nigerian and will continue to pursue its mandate without distraction or encroachment on the inalienable right of anyone,” the commission added.
