Man Arrested For Defrauding Teaching Hospital’s Patients

For months, he had carried out his dubious acts of defrauding hospital patients with impunity. Now, he is caught and will face the wrath of the law.

This is the plight of a suspect caught by the management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) and handed over to the police for prosecution for his inhuman behaviour.

The relieved authorities at the hospital said the elderly man was under investigation for allegedly defrauding patients by disguising himself as a staff member.

The suspect was apprehended during a routine surveillance operation by personnel of the SERVICOM Unit at the hospital.

Confirming the arrest, the hospital’s head of Public Relations and Protocol, Usman Koli, said that the suspect had been defrauding patients and their relatives within the hospital premises until his arrest.

“The suspect, an elderly man who appeared calm and unsuspecting, was apprehended during a night surveillance operation after collecting N45,000 from relatives of a gunshot injury patient.

“He falsely demanded N5,000 for a hospital smart card and N40,000 for the purchase of drugs. Meanwhile, the initial cost of the smart card is ₦ 1,000, while the drugs cost ₦ 18,150. The balance of N27,000 was recovered, and the suspect has been handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution,” he said.

Koli said the chief medical director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Bara, commended the SERVICOM team and issued a strong warning to impostors and fraudsters, reiterating the management’s zero tolerance for extortion, impersonation, and sharp practices.

He urged patients and the general public to remain vigilant and report suspicious individuals or demands for unofficial payments to SERVICOM desks or relevant hospital authorities, assuring that management will continue to strengthen surveillance to protect patients and ensure transparency.