Dr. Nurudeen Adekunle, a consultant orthopedic surgeon at the State Hospital in Ijaye, Abeokuta, has denied allegations that he slapped a male nursing student during an incident on September 24, News About Nigeria reports.
According to Adekunle, he only asked the student to leave the operating theatre for rude behaviour, refuting claims of any physical aggression.
The incident led to a protest by nurses at the hospital, led by Adejoke Bello, the Ogun State Chairman of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives.
Nurses alleged that Dr. Adekunle assaulted the 21-year-old student nurse and threatened to interfere with his graduation if the matter went public.
Addressing the accusations on Wednesday, Adekunle explained that he was conducting a teaching session with both medical and nursing students during his operation day.
He said he was surprised when he heard rumours of a slap several days later, which he categorically denied.
“On my operation day, I was preparing to operate on three patients, and I took the opportunity to teach the students present, both medical and nursing.
“During this, a young male nursing student behaved rudely, although he later claimed it was a joke. I corrected him, emphasizing the importance of respecting senior practitioners, especially in matters beyond his experience.
“My hand was on his shoulder as I asked him to leave the theatre, but I released him shortly afterwards. Four days later, I started hearing rumours that I had slapped him, which is simply untrue.
“The individual I had an issue with is a 21-year-old male nursing student, whom I felt I could correct when he made a mistake, but I did not slap him.
“When the incident occurred, the hospital’s Chief Medical Director (CMD) conducted an investigation and found that no one corroborated the allegations.”
Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Ogun State, supported Adekunle’s account, describing the incident as a “misinterpreted shoulder tap” that had been exaggerated.
“There was no physical altercation,” Ogunjimi confirmed.
