Enugu Psychologist Alleges Brother Arranged Her 16-Day Psychiatric Detention Over Father’s Inheritance

By Globalvoice

A 38-year-old psychologist, Ogechukwu Ike, has alleged that her younger brother and staff members of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, conspired to have her detained and forcibly medicated in an attempt to stop her from pursuing a claim to her late father's estate.

Ike made the allegations in a video testimony obtained by Globalvoice, recounting what she described as a 16-day ordeal at the psychiatric facility.

She alleged that her brother, whom she identified as a lawyer, arranged for her to be taken to the hospital on September 9, 2026, the same day she was scheduled to obtain an arraignment letter from the police in connection with an attempted-murder case she said involved him.

Ike said she eventually escaped from the hospital while disguised and has since gone into hiding because she fears for her safety.

She said she intends to pursue legal action over the alleged abduction, detention and forced medication.

‘They Put Handcuffs on Me’

According to Ike, her brother arrived at her uncle's residence in New Haven, Enugu, at about 5:30 a.m. on September 9 while she was staying there temporarily.

She said she opened the door after hearing persistent knocking, only to find her brother and other men outside.

“He started calling people, ‘Oya come, oya come, see her here, see her here.’ That was how they came in forcefully into the flat and put handcuffs on me,” Ike alleged.

She said she initially believed the men were police officers because of previous encounters involving law enforcement.

“I was asking them, ‘Is this police? Which division? What have I done?’”

Ike said two of the men later identified themselves as “psychiatric catchers” and forced her into a vehicle.

She alleged that the men did not show her a court order or other legal documentation authorising her detention.

Her uncle's wife and two children were reportedly present during the incident, according to Ike.

Inheritance Dispute At Centre of Allegations

Ike claimed that the dispute was connected to her late father's estate.

She said her father died about six years ago and that she had been demanding what she considered her rightful share of his property.

According to her, her younger brother had opposed her claim and allegedly sought to prevent her from pursuing the inheritance.

Ike also alleged that her unmarried status had been used against her in the dispute.

“I am the one to determine who is my next of kin,” she said, adding that her father had remained her next of kin until his death.

She further alleged that her brother was aware she was scheduled to pursue a legal matter against him on the day she was taken to the psychiatric hospital.

“He knows that if they are not able to meet up with their bail requirements, he might be remanded that day. That was when he thought it smart for him to come and take me to a psychiatric hospital,” she alleged.

The allegations have not been independently established, and the individuals accused by Ike have not publicly responded to the claims in the material available for this report.

Psychologist Alleges Medical Records Were Falsified

Ike, who studied psychology, also accused medical personnel at the hospital of manipulating or falsifying the results of psychological assessments conducted during her detention.

She said that on the 15th day of her stay, a doctor told her she was not “exactly mad” but subsequently referred her for a personality inventory assessment.

According to Ike, she completed the questionnaire herself using a pencil and wrote her name, date and signature on the document.

She later questioned the results after allegedly being told that the assessment indicated traits including narcissism, antisocial behaviour and a tendency toward anger.

“This report that this woman gave from the personality inventory test she gave me, that I did in her office, is not my questionnaire that she interpreted,” Ike alleged.

She demanded that the original questionnaire be produced so that the results could be compared with her actual responses.

“I need that questionnaire that you gave me. It's my property,” she said.

The allegations concerning medical records, diagnosis and treatment have not been independently verified.

‘This Has Happened Before’

Ike also alleged that her family had previously taken her to the same psychiatric facility about nine years ago.

She claimed she was released after nine days during that earlier episode, with her brother allegedly signing documents against medical advice.

She said she did not return to the facility until the latest incident.

“I did not come back until this time around when I was supposed to go to court, that he came again to force me to this place,” she said.

Ike has since sought the intervention of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Government, Enugu State Government, Nigerian Bar Association and women's rights organisations.

“I want Nigerians to come for my help. I want Nigerian police to come for my help. I want the Federal Government to come for my help. I want the Enugu State Government to come for my help,” she pleaded.

She also appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association because of her allegation that her brother is a lawyer.

WACOL Raises Concern

The Women's Aid Collective (WACOL) has also raised concerns over Ike's case and the broader issue of women's inheritance rights in Nigeria.

At a press conference on Wednesday, the organisation said Ike was allegedly assaulted, abducted, detained and forcibly medicated after demanding her inheritance.

WACOL said Ike is from Umungwuotowo Village in Obe Agbor, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, and later escaped from the psychiatric facility to tell her story.

Bethel Izugwu, Senior Communication Officer of WACOL, described the case as part of a broader problem involving women's access to land, homes and inheritance.

“Over inheritance rights demand, she was assaulted by Obe-Agbor Community Task Force, abducted, falsely imprisoned, and forced into medication at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Enugu,” Izugwu said.

WACOL said the case was not isolated, arguing that women across Nigeria continue to face disputes over property and inheritance based on customary practices and family decisions.

The organisation's press conference was themed “66 Years After Independence, Nigerian Women Still Fight for Land, Home, and Inheritance.”

Hospitals, Police Yet to Respond

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, had not publicly responded to the allegations attributed to Ike.

The Nigeria Police Force and Enugu State Government were also yet to issue an official response to the claims.

The allegations raise serious questions about forced psychiatric detention, patients' rights, medical consent, police involvement in family disputes and women's inheritance rights in Nigeria.

However, the claims remain allegations pending responses from the individuals and institutions named and any findings from an independent investigation.

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