The management of the Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, has issued a warning letter to its Head of Clinical Services, Dr. Olayinka Majekodunmi, and suspended a student nurse, Seyi Ogunjobi, following a reported case of verbal and alleged physical assault during a ward round.
Medical Director and Provost of the hospital, Dr. Paul Agboola, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abeokuta on Saturday.
Agboola said although Dr. Majekodunmi denied hitting the student nurse during the June 30 incident, he admitted to using foul language during the altercation. As a result, he was given a strongly worded warning letter by the hospital management.
The incident, which occurred during a ward round, sparked protest from members of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, who accused the hospital of bias after Ogunjobi was suspended while the doctor remained on duty.
According to Dr. Agboola, a panel chaired by him investigated the matter and found the student’s account inconsistent. He said the student failed to prove the assault claim, as even his only witness could not confirm if Dr. Majekodunmi physically attacked him.
“Dr. Majekodunmi came with 12 witnesses and admitted using words like ‘you’re stupid, you’re a bastard’ but denied any physical contact. His witnesses supported his claim,” Agboola stated.
“On the other hand, the student nurse’s witness could not confirm the alleged assault. For this reason, and in light of the inconsistencies in his testimony, the student has been suspended—not as punishment but as a corrective step to reinforce discipline and integrity in nurse training.”
He clarified that the suspension is short-term and will not affect the student’s academic progress. “It may only last for one or two days. It is intended to mould his character, not ruin his future,” he added.
Agboola revealed that the father of the student nurse has since reached out to express appreciation for how the issue was handled and pleaded for leniency.
He said hospital management has engaged with various staff unions over the incident and is scheduled to meet with the nurses’ union on Monday to further ease tensions.
The doctors’ and nurses’ faceoff had earlier drawn protests from the nursing body led by its chairman, Narcissus Oluwalegan, who threatened service withdrawal if the student’s suspension was not lifted within 24 hours.
Agboola, however, maintained that the panel’s findings were based on facts and not emotions, stressing that both parties were held accountable in line with professional ethics and hospital policy.