Daud Olatunji
The Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised the alarm over what it described as a growing pattern of aggression, provocation, and institutional sabotage targeted at doctors by some senior nursing personnel at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.
Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the NMA Chairman, Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, vowed that the association would no longer remain silent in the face of persistent harassment and blackmail of medical doctors in the state, warning that legal action would be taken if the attacks continue.
Ogunjimi, who addressed journalists alongside the association’s secretary, Dr. Osikoya Oludotun, condemned recent incidents involving alleged intimidation, misconduct, and sabotage by nursing officers and students within the hospital.
The conference followed the suspension of a nursing student, Mr. Seyi Ogunjobi, for alleged insubordination and physical provocation toward a senior doctor during ward rounds.
According to the NMA, the events at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital form part of a wider, orchestrated scheme by some nursing personnel, allegedly with the backing of their union, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), to provoke doctors into confrontations and then weaponise the fallout against them on social media.
“We are not going to keep quiet anymore. If there is a need to take legal action against anybody trying to tarnish the image of doctors, we will do it.
“It is becoming a recurring practice—deliberately provoking doctors, then running to the media to twist the narrative. This is the last time we will remain silent if these provocations continue,” Ogunjimi declared.
In a jointly signed statement titled “Alarming Acts of Misconduct, Intimidation, and Institutional Subversion at Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro,” the NMA catalogued a series of incidents involving acts of negligence, verbal abuse, physical threats, and unprofessional conduct by senior nurses against medical personnel.
One such case, according to the association, involved a senior consultant who attempted to save a patient suffering a convulsive episode, only to be refused assistance by the Ward Manager, a Deputy Director of Nursing Services.
He said the consultant reportedly resuscitated the patient despite the obstruction and lodged a formal complaint.
He added that in another disturbing incident, a Chief Nursing Officer allegedly verbally and physically assaulted a resident doctor at the hospital’s Lantoro annex.
The NMA said this pattern of hostility was further evidenced in a complaint by a patient’s relative about a Deputy Director of Nursing at the male ward, who was accused of shouting at visitors and causing disruptions in the presence of patients.
The association said the nursing union, NANNM, had attempted to frustrate internal investigations into these incidents and even petitioned the Federal Ministry of Health to shield its members from disciplinary consequences.
The Chairman lamented that the most serious case, however, involved nursing student Seyi Ogunjobi, who was said to have yanked a chair from under a senior consultant, Dr. Majekodunmi, during a ward round.
While the student escaped physical retaliation, the NMA said he later filed a petition—allegedly with the backing of the nurses’ union—accusing the doctor of assault.
According to NMA, despite the intervention of his father and multiple apologies to the Medical Director, Dr. Paul Agboola, Ogunjobi’s petition remained active, allegedly because the nursing leadership blocked its withdrawal.
He said following investigations by a disciplinary panel comprising senior medical and nursing personnel, Ogunjobi failed to substantiate his claims.
He said the panel found no evidence of assault and confirmed that witnesses, including nurses, supported the consultant’s account. Ogunjobi was eventually suspended.
The situation escalated further on July 18, 2025, when NANNM staged a protest, allegedly locking the hospital gates and preventing access to staff, patients, and visitors.
The NMA described the action as a violation of human rights and an act of hostage-taking.
The NMA condemned the protest and the subsequent cyberbullying campaign against Dr. Majekodunmi, calling it a coordinated attempt to damage the consultant’s reputation.
The association commended the hospital’s Medical Director, Dr. Paul Agboola, for his professionalism and fair handling of disciplinary matters, despite intense pressure.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Health, regulatory bodies, and the general public to support transparent and accountable leadership in our hospitals. Every healthcare worker must be held to the same standard of professionalism,” the statement read.
Reaffirming its commitment to upholding ethical standards and patient care, the NMA warned that it would pursue legal redress if the provocative actions and online smear campaigns against doctors persist.
“We respect all professional colleagues. But repeated provocation will no longer be tolerated,” Ogunjimi added. “It’s time the federal government clearly defines the job roles of all health professionals to avoid further conflicts.”
The NMA further urged security agencies to investigate all parties involved in the unlawful protest and online harassment, warning that the integrity and safety of its members would be fiercely defended.
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