The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi is taking rigorous measures to combat fraud and safeguard its patients and the public. The hospital's SERVICOM Unit has been particularly vigilant, successfully apprehending an impostor who was swindling patients and their relatives within the hospital premises.

During a routine night surveillance operation, an elderly man was arrested after extorting N45,000 from the relatives of a patient receiving treatment for a gunshot injury. SERVICOM's subsequent investigations revealed that the impostor falsely demanded N5,000 for a hospital smart card and an additional N40,000 for the purchase of drugs. The ATBUTH management clarified that the official cost of the smart card is N1,000, and the prescribed drugs amounted to only N18,150. The N27,000 in excess funds collected by the suspect was recovered and has since been handed over to the police for further investigation and potential prosecution.

Reacting to the successful apprehension, Professor Yusuf Jibrin Bara, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, praised the SERVICOM team for their vigilance and professionalism. He issued a stern warning to impostors and fraudsters, reiterating that the hospital management maintains a zero-tolerance policy against extortion, impersonation, and any other sharp practices. Prof. Bara also urged patients and the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious individuals or demands for unofficial payments to SERVICOM desks or other appropriate hospital authorities, assuring that surveillance measures would be continually strengthened to protect patients and promote transparency.

In a related development, ATBUTH management has also raised an alarm concerning reports of fraudsters impersonating hospital officials to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals under the guise of offering employment or facilitating appointments. A statement released on Wednesday by Usman Abdullahi Koli, the Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Unit, categorically stated that no staff member or individual is authorized to collect money, gifts, or any form of inducement for employment or appointment within the institution.

The statement further instructed anyone who may have paid money or offered inducements in such circumstances to report the matter immediately to the Unit with relevant details. It warned that failure to report could lead to legal consequences, as the hospital is committed to taking decisive action against perpetrators and their collaborators. ATBUTH reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to accountability, transparency, and the protection of both patients and the wider public from all forms of fraud and exploitation.