There is growing tension at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State. This follows a serious incident where a nursing student, Seyi Ogunjobi, reportedly tried to take his own life after being suspended by the hospital’s medical director and provost, Dr. Paul Agboola. The student had earlier complained of threats and intimidation.
Seyi Ogunjobi, a student preparing for his final exams in psychiatric nursing, was suddenly suspended under unclear and controversial reasons.
Several hospital sources told reporters that Seyi had faced constant verbal abuse, humiliation, and an unfriendly learning environment before his suspension.
Witnesses said he left a suicide note and left his home in distress after the suspension.
Thankfully, some concerned people, including colleagues, quickly intervened and found him before he could harm himself.
A fellow nursing student, who chose to remain anonymous, said, “He was emotionally broken. He had been humiliated and threatened many times. The suspension pushed him over the edge.”
Dr. Paul Agboola, the hospital’s medical director, denied any wrongdoing after reports came out accusing Dr. Olayinka Majekodunmi, the Head of Clinical Services, of assaulting Ogunjobi physically and verbally.
Agboola admitted that Dr. Majekodunmi had used harsh words like “You’re stupid, you’re a bastard” during a clash with Seyi on June 30, 2025. Because of this, Majekodunmi was given a warning letter.
Agboola said a panel he led found Seyi’s story inconsistent. The panel did not find enough proof that the doctor physically assaulted him, so they suspended Seyi as a disciplinary action.
This decision sparked anger in the nursing community. Groups like the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Aro chapter, and the Elegant Nurses Forum criticized how the hospital handled the case.
The Elegant Nurses Forum released a statement, accusing Dr. Agboola of creating a culture of fear and mistreating both student nurses and staff. They called the environment toxic and harmful.
The group claimed Seyi was forcibly removed from the hospital ward by security guards on the orders of the medical director, just days before his final exam.
They said this action was unnecessarily harsh and questioned how a psychiatric hospital—meant to support mental health—could act so cruelly.
They described Seyi’s suicide attempt as the result of days of threats and humiliation. The suspension, they said, was not only unfair but dangerous to his mental health.
The group called for international action, asking organizations like the International Council of Nurses to blacklist the medical director and ban him from traveling, accusing him of abusing his power.
The NANNM chapter at the hospital also released a statement criticizing the provost’s earlier press conference, which claimed no assault had taken place.
The union said Dr. Agboola not only led the investigation himself but also stopped other panel members from giving fair input.
They accused him of acting alone by suspending the student before the panel completed its report.
Despite Dr. Majekodunmi admitting to using offensive language, the hospital still chose to suspend Seyi and only gave the doctor a warning, which the union said was unjust.
They described the situation as a clear example of injustice, questioning how the student could be punished more than the doctor who verbally abused him.
They pointed out contradictions in the provost’s statement—how he admitted the doctor used foul language but still claimed the student’s complaint was unproven.
The union said this wasn’t the first time the provost had acted unfairly. They mentioned past situations where staff members were targeted for speaking up about poor working conditions.
While the union supports fair discipline when needed, they criticized the hospital’s leadership for being reckless, biased, and damaging to students’ mental health and the hospital’s reputation.
They said, “As a professional body, we must defend our members and speak out against abuse, injustice, and misuse of power.”
The union demanded that the suspension be lifted immediately and called for the issue to be re-examined fairly.
They also urged regulatory bodies, stakeholders, and the public to hold the hospital accountable and ensure student nurses and staff are protected in the future.
They ended by saying that allowing injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, and harming one person harms the whole community.
