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UK-based Nigerian nurse jailed for child negligence in tragic infant death
A Nigerian nurse, Ruth Auta, residing in the United Kingdom, has been sentenced to three years in prison for child negligence following the tragic death of her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele.
The 28-year-old single mother was found guilty of leaving her infant unattended for an extended period while she worked a shift at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
The heartbreaking incident took place on December 20, 2022, when Auta, living in nurse’s accommodation, reportedly left Joshua alone in his cot for eight hours.
Upon returning from her shift, she discovered her son unresponsive and immediately called emergency services.
Despite the paramedics’ efforts to revive the baby, Joshua was tragically pronounced dead one hour later.
Investigations revealed that Joshua may have died from overheating, as he had been wrapped in heavy clothing and bedding.
This likely caused his body temperature to rise to dangerous levels during the hours he was left unattended.
Auta faced charges of child cruelty and negligence and pleaded guilty at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on May 24, 2024.
During the investigation, it emerged that Auta had initially attempted to mislead authorities about the circumstances surrounding her son’s death.
She had claimed to have collected Joshua from a childminder and had fallen asleep with him before discovering him unresponsive.
However, CCTV footage and text message evidence later contradicted her story.
Footage showed Auta leaving and returning to her accommodation without Joshua, and messages revealed that she had asked the childminder to lie, saying she had looked after Joshua on that day.
Further compounding the case was Auta’s attempt to flee the UK.
In June 2024, she was intercepted by authorities at Gatwick Airport with a one-way ticket to Nigeria, an act seen as an attempt to evade justice.
Her plan to leave the country just weeks after her court appearance only further deepened the gravity of her crime in the eyes of the court.
During the sentencing, District Crown Prosecutor Sara Davie remarked on Auta’s professional background, noting that as a nurse, she should have been acutely aware of the risks of leaving an infant unattended for such a long period.
Davie condemned Auta’s actions, stating, “Her failure to provide the necessary care for her child, along with her attempts to evade justice, clearly show a lack of remorse for her son’s tragic death.”
Ruth Auta will now serve a three-year prison sentence for her role in the devastating loss of her infant son, marking a deeply sorrowful conclusion to the case.
It has been reported that the Ebola virus is rising again and there have been some cases. This has caused fear in many, with talks of different viruses spreading.
Amid this concern, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) reassured the people that no trace of Ebola has been confirmed in the country, despite the outbreak in Africa.
FAAN shared that they have been on the lookout for travellers who may have symptoms, and so far there is none.
It has been reported that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has finally released the withheld results of 279 students.
It can be recalled that some results were held due to investigations of cheating. Some results proved to have traces of malpractice and were cancelled, but the ones without traces have been released and the students can finally move on.
JAMB also shared additional advice for students that might have not seen theirs: “Candidates whose results have not yet been released are advised to check their status by sending UTMERESULT to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used for registration to view their released results.”
It was reported that former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has allegedly purchased a presidential candidate form for the 2027 elections.
It can be noted that Jonathan served as Nigeria’s president from 2010 to 2015.
This information was revealed by Sani Useni, a special assistant who made the claim. Many reacted to the news, with some expressing interest in seeing Jonathan return to power after staying relatively quiet politically since his administration ended.
However, Jonathan has not yet addressed the public or officially shared any presidential ambition.
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