The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has uncovered a fraudulent scheme within its premises, recovering ₦27,000 extorted from a patient.

The hospital’s SERVICOM Unit, during a routine night surveillance operation, apprehended an elderly man who had collected ₦45,000 from relatives of a gunshot injury patient. The suspect falsely demanded ₦5,000 for a hospital smart card, which is fre,e and ₦40,000 for drugs, whose actual cost was ₦18,150. The excess ₦27,000 was recovered, and the suspect was handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Bara, praised the SERVICOM team for their vigilance and reiterated the hospital’s zero tolerance for extortion, impersonation, and fraudulent practices. He encouraged patients and the public to report any suspicious demands for unofficial payments to the hospital’s SERVICOM desk.

The management also warned the public against fraudsters posing as hospital staff to solicit money under the guise of employment or facilitating appointments, emphasizing that no individual is authorized to collect money or gifts for services or positions at ATBUTH.

This action highlights the hospital’s commitment to transparency, patient protection, and strict enforcement against fraudulent activities.