Neuropsychiatric Hospital Crisis: Ogun NMA Accuses Nurses of Coordinated Attacks, Threatens Legal Action
The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm over what it describes as a series of coordinated attacks against medical doctors at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, in Abeokuta.
The association has also threatened legal action against the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), accusing its members of cyberbullying and defamation of character.
Addressing journalists at a press briefing held at the NMA Secretariat in Abeokuta on Thursday, the state chairman, Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, stated that the attacks were deliberately orchestrated by nurses and nursing students to provoke doctors and disrupt the hospital’s operations.
“This calculated and sustained aggression by the nurses is a threat not only to the decorum with which doctors have conducted their duties but also to institutional order, patient safety, and the integrity of professional standards in the hospital,” Dr. Ogunjimi said.
At the centre of the controversy is Dr. Olayinka Majekodunmi, the hospital’s Head of Clinical Services, who the NMA claims has been the target of defamatory online attacks and coordinated provocations by student nurses under the alleged influence of NANNM and some senior nursing staff.
The NMA cited four documented instances this year that it claims demonstrate unprofessional conduct by nurses in the hospital. The most recent incident involves a Post-Basic Nursing student, Seyi Ogunjobi, who was accused of undermining Dr. Majekodunmi during a ward round on June 30, 2025.
According to Dr. Ogunjimi, Ogunjobi, who has a known history of insubordination and aggression toward hospital staff, reportedly pulled a chair from beneath the leading consultant during the round.
“Thankfully, no physical injury occurred,” Ogunjimi said, adding that the situation was handled with a verbal reprimand.
Despite this, Ogunjobi filed a petition against the consultant, which the NMA alleges was influenced by NANNM. His father reportedly apologized to hospital leadership and urged the withdrawal of the petition, which the student attempted before the nursing leadership allegedly blocked the move.
The NMA also expressed concern over what it described as evasive conduct during the disciplinary process, including the School Principal distancing herself from the panel she was part of. The association described the letter communicating Ogunjobi’s eventual suspension as “poorly written” and lacking basic referencing.
Tensions further escalated on July 18, 2025, when nurses staged a protest over the student’s suspension. According to the NMA, the nurses unlawfully locked the hospital gates, preventing access to and from the facility for several hours. The association condemned the act, labelling it a criminal breach of human rights and an instance of hostage-taking.
“These actions are deliberate attempts to politicize disciplinary processes, destabilize hospital leadership, and erode the professionalism expected within our healthcare system,” Dr. Ogunjimi declared.
He called on the Federal Ministry of Health, regulatory agencies, and professional bodies to intervene and uphold transparent and accountable leadership in the nation’s healthcare institutions.
The NMA also commended the Provost and Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Dr. Paul Agboola, for his “unwavering professionalism, impartiality, and principled leadership” throughout the crisis.
