The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, Bauchi, has uncovered a fraudulent scheme within its premises and recovered ₦27,000 allegedly extorted from a patient. The development was disclosed in a press statement issued today by the Head of the hospital’s Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Usman Koli.
Koli explained that the suspect, described as an elderly man who appeared calm and unsuspecting, was apprehended during a night surveillance operation after collecting ₦45,000 from relatives of a gunshot injury patient. He said the suspect falsely demanded ₦5,000 for a hospital smart card and ₦40,000 for the purchase of drugs.
Reacting to the incident, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Bara, commended the SERVICOM team for their vigilance and reiterated the hospital management’s zero tolerance for extortion, impersonation and other sharp practices. He urged patients and members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals or demands for unofficial payments to SERVICOM desks or relevant hospital authorities, assuring that management would continue to strengthen surveillance to safeguard patients and ensure transparency.
