Man arrested for extorting patients at ATBUTH

Thursday, December 18, 2025 - The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi has apprehended an elderly man accused of defrauding patients and their relatives within the hospital premises.

The hospital said the suspect is not an employee of ATBUTH and was uncovered by its SERVICOM Unit during routine surveillance operations. According to the management, the man had been extorting unsuspecting patients and their relatives under false pretences.

ATBUTH spokesperson Abdullahi Usman Koli said the suspect was arrested during a night surveillance exercise after allegedly collecting 45,000 naira from relatives of a patient being treated for a gunshot injury.

“The suspect was arrested during a night surveillance operation after he allegedly collected 45,000 naira from relatives of a patient who was receiving treatment for a gunshot injury,” Koli said.

He explained that the suspect falsely demanded 5,000 naira for a hospital smart card and 40,000 naira for the purchase of drugs. “According to him, the suspect fraudulently demanded 5,000 naira for a hospital smart card and 40,000 naira for drugs,” he said. Koli clarified that the official cost of the hospital smart card is 1,000 naira, while the required drugs cost 18,150 naira.

He added that the sum of 27,000 naira was recovered from the suspect and that he has been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Commending the SERVICOM Unit for its vigilance, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof Yusuf Jibrin Bara, restated the hospital’s zero tolerance stance on extortion, impersonation and other sharp practices.

“ATBUTH has zero tolerance for extortion, impersonation and all forms of sharp practices,” Bara said.

He urged patients and members of the public to remain vigilant and to report suspicious individuals or demands for unofficial payments to SERVICOM desks or appropriate hospital authorities.

The hospital management also warned the public against fraudsters impersonating hospital officials to collect money under the guise of offering employment or facilitating appointments.

It stressed that no individual or staff member is authorised to collect money, gifts or any form of inducement for employment or appointment at the hospital.