Elderly man arrested for allegedly swindling patients at ATBUTH

The management of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, ATBUTH, Bauchi, has apprehended an elderly man allegedly involved in defrauding patients and their relatives within the hospital premises.

The hospital management disclosed that the suspect, who is not an employee of ATBUTH, was detected by its SERVICOM Unit during routine surveillance activities.

The impostor was said to have been extorting unsuspecting patients and their relatives under false pretences.

Speaking on the incident, ATBUTH spokesperson, Abdullahi Usman Koli, said the suspect was arrested during a night surveillance operation after allegedly collecting ₦45,000 from relatives of a patient receiving treatment for a gunshot injury.

According to him, the suspect fraudulently demanded ₦5,000 for a hospital smart card and ₦40,000 for the purchase of drugs.

Koli clarified that the official cost of the hospital smart card is ₦1,000, while the drugs required for the patient cost ₦18,150.

He added that the balance of ₦27,000 was recovered from the suspect, who has since been handed over to the police for investigation and possible prosecution.

Commending the SERVICOM team for their vigilance, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Jibrin Bara, reiterated the hospital’s zero-tolerance policy for extortion, impersonation, and other sharp practices.

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

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

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