The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has issued an apology to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital and the Nigerian Medical Association following an incident involving operatives of the anti-graft agency.
The apology came after a preliminary report was submitted on the May 12 encounter between EFCC personnel and members of staff at the hospital.
According to a statement released by the commission, Olukoyede instructed that a formal apology be conveyed to Eyo Ekpe, deputy chairman of the medical advisory committee of UUTH, as well as members of the NMA.
Olukoyede expressed regret over the development and acknowledged the inconvenience and distress the incident caused hospital workers and members of the public. He also reaffirmed that the commission had already commenced a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
The EFCC boss stated that any operative found guilty of violating the agency’s professional code of conduct would face appropriate disciplinary measures.
“Once the exercise is completed, any officer found to have acted outside of the acceptable code of professional conduct would be subjected to the internal disciplinary process,” the statement reads.
He further noted that the commission would maintain engagement with relevant stakeholders to ensure such incidents do not occur again. Olukoyede stressed, however, that the development would not deter the EFCC from continuing its anti-corruption mandate across the country.
The EFCC chairman also appealed to the Nigerian Medical Association and other professional organisations to sustain their support for the commission’s efforts in tackling economic and financial crimes nationwide.
