Peter Obi Condemns EFCC Operation at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has issued a formal critique regarding the conduct of operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a recent enforcement action at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital.

In a statement released via his official X handle on Thursday, May 14, 2026, Obi described the alleged use of teargas within the hospital premises as a "thoughtless act" that compromised the safety of both medical personnel and patients.

The operation was reportedly aimed at arresting Professor Eyo Ekpe, a distinguished Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Deputy Chairman of the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee.

While acknowledging the constitutional mandate of the EFCC and other government agencies to perform their duties without interference, Obi maintained that the methodology employed in this instance was deeply troubling and signaled a lack of respect for the rule of law and order.

He argued that the deployment of teargas canisters in a fragile clinical environment jeopardized the health of vulnerable individuals and disrupted the essential functions of a critical development asset.

According to the statement, such actions reflect a pattern of "rascality and disorderliness" that characterizes some public offices, and he called for a return to civility in the discharge of official duties.

Obi highlighted the potential long-term damage to Nigeria’s already strained healthcare workforce. He pointed out the significant disparity in medical specialists, noting that Nigeria possesses only 80 cardiothoracic surgeons to serve a population of 230 million.

Professor Eyo Ekpe is reportedly the sole practitioner in his field within Akwa Ibom State.

Obi contended that arresting a senior medical professional in such a demeaning manner sends a negative signal to other professionals working to sustain the nation's health sector.

The former Governor of Anambra State emphasized that a nation's effectiveness is anchored on the intangible assets of law and order.

He asserted that nothing justifies the use of chemical irritants in a hospital environment and urged the relevant authorities to eschew disruptive enforcement tactics.