Hospital recovers ₦27,000 after fraudster extorts patient in Bauchi
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi has exposed a fraud scheme targeting patients. The hospital’s SERVICOM Unit uncovered the scam during a routine surveillance and recovered ₦27,000 from an impostor. According to the hospital’s spokesperson, the suspect had collected money under false pretenses from a patient’s relatives. The incident was made public on June 5, 2025, and the suspect has been handed over to the police for investigation.
What happened
- The SERVICOM Unit at ATBUTH discovered an elderly man impersonating hospital staff and defrauding patients during a night surveillance operation.
- The suspect collected ₦45,000 from relatives of a gunshot patient, demanding ₦5,000 for a smart card (which is actually free) and ₦40,000 for drugs (which cost only ₦18,150).
- The hospital recovered the excess ₦27,000 and handed the suspect to police for further investigation and prosecution.
- Prof. Yusuf Bara, the Chief Medical Director, praised the SERVICOM team and urged the public to report any suspicious demands or unofficial payments.
- The hospital warned against fraudsters impersonating staff for money, especially for employment or appointments, and stressed that such actions could lead to legal consequences.
